Traumatic and Adverse Attachment Childhood Experiences are not Characteristic of OCD but of Depression in Adolescents

Abstract

We investigated whether adverse attachment experience might contribute to the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We interviewed 100 adolescents, 25 each with primary OCD, depressive disorder (DD), OCD plus DD and general population controls (CTRs) using the adult attachment interview to assess attachment experiences (AEs), including traumatic and adverse AE (TAE). Adolescents with OCD, OCD+DD and DD had little evidence of secure base/safe haven parental behaviour and their childhood attachment needs judged to be rejected as compared to the controls. Overprotection was not characteristic of OCD, and parents using the child for their own needs (elevated levels of involving/role reversal) occurred only in DD, with low levels in OCD, OCD+DD and CTR. Traumatic experiences, often multiple, and/or attachment related were reported significantly more often in the DD group, and was less common in OCD+DD, CTR and particularly in the OCD group. In OCD, little TAE was reported and adverse AE were less serious and seem unlikely to contribute directly to OCD aetiology. In DD and to some degree in OCD+DD serious AE/TAE may have some etiological significance for the depressive states.

Struggling with one’s own parenting after an upbringing with substance abusing parents

“…Substance abusing parents can frequently be neglectful, abusive, unreliable, and emotionally unavailable for their children (Chassin, Rogosch, & Barrera, 1991; Velleman, Templeton, Reuber, Klein, & Moesgen, 2008). Children who are subjected to this kind of dysfunctional family situation, summarized in the concept of “Adverse Childhood Experiences” (ACE; Felitti et al, 1998), are at risk for developing problematic behaviours that affect both their own and their future children’s lives (Ivarsson, Saavedra, Granqvist, & Broberg, 2015; Kalmakis & Chandler, 2015; Lomanowska, Boivin, Hertzman, & Fleming, 2015). This study examines how individuals raised in such conditions reflect on their childhood and the kinds of difficulties that they have in their own role as a parent.…”

Childhood experiences of female family-violence perpetrators

“…Also, it is essential to sensitively share that no one is or does not need to be a mind‐reader, as women shared several experiences of not being able to read their parents’ minds or neither were they able to ask for help when encountered difficulties. Also, if mothers suffer mental health problems, issues of abusive behavior should be discussed . The study findings can be used as examples of inquiries to avoid raising any kind of guilt or resistance in women.…”

“…This study contributes knowledge helpful for the development of such interventions, and as Ferreira and Buttell suggested, it crucial to process family‐of‐origin issues with women who have perpetrated family‐violence. Preventive interventions should help participants process issues related to self‐image, such as self‐esteem and self‐knowledge, to help eliminate the adverse outcomes of childhood emotional abuse, such as anxiety, depression, and personality disorder symptomology, along with abusive behavior.…”

“…Childhood emotional abuse and neglect are also understood to produce a negative sense of self . Childhood adverse experiences have been found to be related to depression; maltreatment experiences, such as parental overprotection and childhood teasing, to avoidant personality disorder symptomology; emotional neglect to anxiety disorders; and childhood neglectful experiences to poor emotional regulation …”

“…Also, if mothers suffer mental health problems, issues of abusive behavior should be discussed. 28 The study findings can be used as examples of inquiries to avoid raising any kind of guilt or resistance in women.…”