The Relevance of Attachment Theory in Medical Care

Strauß, Bernhard; Brenk-Franz, Katja

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-23300-0_4

Cited by 15 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…Based on the central assumptions of attachment theory, a model for the activation of the attachment system in adulthood was developed [6]. The model supports the adoption of the attachment activation by chronic diseases [7]. There are other model assumptions which describe the different influences of insecure attachment on the maintenance of diseases or chronic disease through example low self-management skills [8].…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient-provider relationship as mediator between adult attachment and self-management in primary care patients with multiple chronic conditions

Brenk-Franz

Strauß

Tiesler

et al. 2017

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

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Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient-provider relationship as mediator between adult attachment and self-management in primary care patients with multiple chronic conditions

Brenk-Franz

Strauß

Tiesler

et al. 2017

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

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“…The AAI classifies secure and insecure attachment representations with insecurity further divided into insecure-dismissing and insecure-preoccupied attachment representation (Hesse, 2008) (Figure 1). Attachment insecurity was been associated with impaired mental and physical health (Cassidy, Jones, & Shaver, 2013) and can thus be seen as a risk factor for the development of diseases like depression (Strauss & Brenk-Franz, 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional connectivity changes following interpersonal reactivity

Krause

Čolić

Borchardt

et al. 2017

Human Brain Mapping

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Attachment experiences substantially influence emotional and cognitive development. Narratives comprising attachment-dependent content were proposed to modulate activation of cognitive-emotional schemata in listeners. We studied the effects after listening to prototypical attachment narratives on wellbeing and countertransference-reactions in 149 healthy participants. Neural correlates of these cognitive-emotional schema activations were investigated in a 7 Tesla rest-task-rest fMRI-study (23 healthy males) using functional connectivity (FC) analysis of the social approach network (seed regions: left and right Caudate Nucleus, CN). Reduced FC between left CN and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) represented a general effect of prior auditory stimulation. After presentation of the insecure-dismissing narrative, FC between left CN and bilateral temporo-parietal junction, and right dorsal posterior Cingulum was reduced, compared to baseline. Post-narrative FC-patterns of insecure-dismissing and insecure-preoccupied narratives differed in strength between left CN and right DLPFC. Neural correlates of the moderating effect of individual attachment anxiety were represented in a reduced CN-DLPFC FC as a function of individual neediness-levels. These findings suggest specific neural processing of prolonged mood-changes and schema activation induced by attachment-specific speech patterns. Individual desire for interpersonal proximity was predicted by attachment anxiety and furthermore modulated FC of the social approach network in those exposed to such narratives.

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“…Over the past years, the importance of attachment theory has grown immensely in many fields of medical care [ 1 ] as it provides a biopsychosocial model to explain how individual differences in experience and behavior are related to interpersonal proximity and distance, as well as to the regulation of affect and stress [ 2 ]. The underlying model explains the individual differences in coping and self-care behavior [ 3 , 4 ] and the development of disease [ 5 ]. Attachment theory has also been used to understand the behavior of patients with chronic illness [ 6 ], pain [ 7 ] and cancer [ 8 ], and patients who depend heavily on medical providers, such as in intensive or palliative care [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Attachment theory also can help physicians better understand and respond to the ways in which patients' presenting symptomatology are described and discussed, and the manner in which patients form relationships and interact with other significant persons, including health care providers (e.g. primary care physicians, nurses, psychologists) [ 4 , 12 ]. Our approach is based on the model that attachment qualities detected in infancy—there is a traditional subdivision into three major attachment categories: secure, insecure-preoccupied and insecure-avoidant—are still established in adulthood [ 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the short form of “Experience in Close Relationships” (Revised, German Version “ECR-RD12”) - A tool to measure adult attachment in primary care

Brenk-Franz

Ehrenthal²,

Freund

et al. 2018

PLoS ONE

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Attachment theory helps us to understand patients´ health behavior. Attachment styles might explain patient differences in coping behavior, self-treatment, or patient-provider relationships. In primary care time constrains are relevant. A short instrument may facilitate screening and assessment in daily medical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate a 12-item short version of the Experience in Close Relationships-revised (ECR-R-D) to be used in primary care settings. We included 249 patients from ten general practices in central Germany into a cross-sectional study. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to evaluate the factor structure of the ECR-items. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency. The results related to the short form of the ECR are in line with those of the German full-length version of the measure (ECR-RD 36). Internal consistencies were in an adequate range. The ECR short form can be recommended as a screening measure of attachment styles in primary care.

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The Relevance of Attachment Theory in Medical Care

Cited by 15 publications

References 79 publications

Patient-provider relationship as mediator between adult attachment and self-management in primary care patients with multiple chronic conditions

Patient-provider relationship as mediator between adult attachment and self-management in primary care patients with multiple chronic conditions

Functional connectivity changes following interpersonal reactivity

Evaluation of the short form of “Experience in Close Relationships” (Revised, German Version “ECR-RD12”) - A tool to measure adult attachment in primary care

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