Affective touch and attachment style modulate pain: a laser-evoked potentials study

Affective touch and cutaneous pain are two sub-modalities of interoception with contrasting affective qualities (pleasantness/unpleasantness) and social meanings (care/harm), yet their direct relationship has not been investigated. In 50 women, taking into account individual attachment styles, we assessed the role of affective touch and particularly the contribution of the C tactile (CT) system in subjective and electrophysiological responses to noxious skin stimulation, namely N1 and N2-P2 laser-evoked potentials. When pleasant, slow (versus fast) velocity touch was administered to the (non-CT-containing) palm of the hand, higher attachment anxiety predicted increased subjective pain ratings, in the same direction as changes in N2 amplitude. By contrast, when pleasant touch was administered to CT-containing skin of the arm, higher attachment anxiety predicted attenuated N1 and N2 amplitudes. Higher attachment avoidance predicted opposite results. Thus, CT-based affective touch can modulate pain in early and late processing stages (N1 and N2 components), with the direction of effects depending on attachment style. Affective touch not involving the CT system seems to affect predominately the conscious perception of pain, possibly reflecting socio-cognitive factors further up the neurocognitive hierarchy. Affective touch may thus convey information about available social resources and gate pain responses depending on individual expectations of social support. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Interoception beyond homeostasis: affect, cognition and mental health’.

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Sensitivity to Affective Touch Depends on Adult Attachment Style

10.1101/373415 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Charlotte Krahé ◽

Mariana von Mohr ◽

Antje Gentsch ◽

Lisette Guy ◽

Chiara Vari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Attachment Style ◽

Adult Attachment ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Adult Attachment Interview ◽

Self Report ◽

Affective Touch ◽

Standard Assessment ◽

Explicit Representations

AbstractAffective touch supports affiliative bonds and social cognition. However, it remains unknown whether pre-existing models of social relating influence the perception of affective touch. Here, we present the first study (N=44) to examine how individual differences in attachment styles relate to the perception of affective touch, as well as to a different non-social modality of interoception, namely cardiac perceived accuracy. Using the gold standard assessment of adult attachment (Adult Attachment Interview), we found that insecure attachment was associated with reduced pleasantness discrimination between affective vs. non-affective, neutral touch. Acknowledging the different traditions in measuring attachment, we also used a well-validated self-report questionnaire that pertains to explicit representations of current close relationships. Using this measure, we found that higher scores on an attachment anxiety dimension (but not an attachment avoidance) were associated with reduced pleasantness discrimination between affective vs. non-affective, neutral touch. Attachment patterns (in both measures) were not related to cardiac perception accuracy. These results corroborate and extend previous literature on the affectivity of touch and its relation with affiliative bonds and social cognition. Given that attachment was not related to perceived cardiac accuracy, these findings point to the specificity of the relationship between affective touch and attachment.

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Effect of Attachment Style on Selective Attention in Panic Disorder

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology ◽

10.1521/jscp.2020.39.6.523 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

pp. 523-560

Author(s):

Ottilia Klipsch ◽

Henning Schauenburg ◽

Christoph Nikendei ◽

Cord Benecke ◽

Ulrike Dinger

Keyword(s):

Panic Disorder ◽

Attentional Bias ◽

Attachment Style ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Reaction Times ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Control Group ◽

Attachment Avoidance ◽

Moderation Effect ◽

Interpersonal Threat

Introduction: Given the heterogeneity of results in the attentional bias to threatening information in patients with panic disorder, we investigated the attentional bias toward threat and the moderating effect of attachment styles in a female-only sample of panic patients and a nonclinical control group. Methods: Female panic patients (n = 47) were compared to a female control group (n = 47) using a modified Dot Probe Task with body-related and interpersonal threat as well as attachment positive words. Results: An attentional bias toward threat words was not replicated. Furthermore, there was no moderation effect on attentional bias by attachment styles. However, high attachment avoidance was associated with faster reaction times (RT) in attachment positive compared to attachment threat trials in both groups. In the patient group, attachment anxiety was associated with faster RT in panic threat trials compared to attachment positive trials. Anxiously attached controls reacted faster to attachment positive vs. attachment threat trials. Discussion: No attentional bias was found in the present study. However, the findings suggest that attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety differently influence attention responses to trials that include different emotional stimuli in clinical and nonclinical, female participants. Attachment insecurity may modify attention when processing trials including both, threat and positive stimuli.

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Adult Attachment, Social Support, and Depression Level of Poststroke Patients

Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal ◽

10.2224/sbp.2008.36.10.1341 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 36 (10) ◽

pp. 1341-1351 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Tonggui Li ◽

Jia Li ◽

Qiyan Dai

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Attachment Style ◽

Adult Attachment ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Post Stroke ◽

Depression Level ◽

Positive Correlations ◽

The Relationship

This study investigated the relationship between adult attachment, social support, and depression of post-stroke patients. A total of 100 post-stroke patients were recruited to complete 4 questionnaires, which include 2 widely used measurements of adult attachment – the Relationship Questionnaire (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991) and the Experiences of Close Relationships Inventory (Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998) – to measure patients' attachment style, the Social Support Inventory (Xiao, 1994) measuring four aspects of social support, and the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, 1967) measuring their depression level. The results suggested that patients differ in adult attachment styles and varied significantly in all indices of social support and depression. Secure subjects got higher scores in social support and lower scores of depression. Their depression level had significant positive correlations with attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety, and was negatively correlated to all indices of social support. Furthermore, both attachment-anxiety and subjective social support can predicate the depression level of poststroke patients.

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The effects of attachment style and security priming on the perception of others’ pain

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/0265407515627509 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 184-208 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yangu Pan ◽

Dajun Zhang ◽

Yanling Liu ◽

Guangming Ran ◽

Zhaojun Teng

Keyword(s):

Pain Intensity ◽

Attachment Style ◽

Adult Attachment ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Future Research ◽

Anxious Attachment ◽

Priming Paradigm ◽

Perceived Pain ◽

Preoccupied Attachment

Abundant evidence has demonstrated a relationship between adult attachment and the experience of one’s own pain. However, few studies have investigated the associations between adult attachment and perception of others’ pain. The current studies examined the effects of attachment style and security priming on the perception of others’ pain. In Study 1, we explored the influence of avoidant and anxious attachment styles on the perception of pain in pictures representing pain or no pain. The results indicated that individuals high on anxiety and low on avoidance (i.e., preoccupied attachment style) reported more pain intensity and unpleasantness for painful pictures; individuals high on both anxiety and avoidance (i.e., fearful attachment style) reported less pain intensity for painful pictures. In Study 2, we examined the effects of security priming and attachment style on the perception of pain in pictures representing pain or no pain by adopting a security priming paradigm. The results suggested that security priming attenuated perceived pain intensity for painful pictures for individuals with high attachment anxiety. In Study 3, we used another well-validated security priming paradigm; results indicated that security priming reduced perceived pain intensity for pain pictures among individuals high on anxiety and low on avoidance (i.e., preoccupied attachment style) but increased perceived pain intensity for painful pictures among individuals high on both anxiety and avoidance (i.e., fearful attachment style). Directions for future research, clinical implications, and limitations of the present studies are discussed.

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A comparison between the neural correlates of laser and electric pain stimulation and their modulation by expectation

10.1101/185645 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

EJ. Hird ◽

D. Talmi ◽

AKP. Jones ◽

W. El-Deredy

Keyword(s):

Evoked Potentials ◽

Pain Intensity ◽

Electric Stimulation ◽

Pain Perception ◽

Neural Correlates ◽

Event Related Potential ◽

Subjective Ratings ◽

Laser Evoked Potentials ◽

Specific Stimulus ◽

Pain Ratings

AbstractBackgroundPain is modulated by expectation. Event-related potential (ERP) studies of the influence of expectation on pain typically utilise laser heat stimulation to provide a controllable nociceptive-specific stimulus. Short painful electric stimulation has a number of practical advantages, but is less nociceptive-specific. We compared the modulation of electric versus laser-evoked pain by expectation, and their corresponding pain-evoked and anticipatory ERPs.New MethodWe developed understanding of recognised methods of laser and electric stimulation. We tested whether pain perception and neural activity induced by electric stimulation was modulated by expectation, whether this expectation elicited anticipatory neural correlates, and how these measures compared to those associated with laser stimulation. We elicited cue-evoked expectations of high and low pain and compared subjective ratings and corresponding ERPs in response to the delivery of laser and electric stimulation in a within-participant design.ResultsDespite sensory and affective differences between laser and electric pain, intensity ratings and pain-evoked potentials were modulated equivalently by expectation, though ERPs only correlated with pain ratings in the laser pain condition. Anticipatory correlates significantly differentiated pain intensity expectation to laser but not electric pain.Comparison with Existing MethodPrevious studies have consistently shown that laser-evoked potentials are modulated by expectation. We extend this by showing electric pain-evoked potentials are equally modulated by expectation, within the same participants. We also show a difference between the pain types in anticipation.ConclusionsThough laser-evoked potentials express a stronger relationship with pain perception, both laser and electric stimulation may be used to study the modulation of pain-evoked potentials by expectation. Anticipatory-evoked potentials are elicited by both pain types, but they may reflect different processes and did not correlate with pain perception.

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A Study Evaluating Mindfulness and Naikan-Based Therapy: AEON-HO for Attachment Style, Self-Actualization, and Depression

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294118811106 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 123 (2) ◽

pp. 239-251

Author(s):

Chieko Fujisaki

Keyword(s):

Attachment Style ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Depressive State ◽

Attachment Avoidance ◽

High Affinity ◽

Before And After ◽

Self Actualization

AEON-HO (Altering emotional organization-holistic operation) contains methods of Naikan therapy and mindfulness. Naikan and mindfulness are originally from Buddhism tradition, and they have a high affinity. AEON-HO was conceptualized to improve attachment issues and the growth of self-actualization, because Naikan and mindfulness are known to be effective for attachment issues but partially if they are used independently. Naikan can approach to attachment avoidance, while mindfulness can approach to attachment anxiety. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of AEON-HO on attachment styles, self-actualization, and depression by using “attachment style scale the Experiences in Close Relationships inventory–the generalized–other–version (ECR-GO),” “self-actualization scale” translated to Japanese, and “center for epidemiologic studies for depression scale.” Participants have taken these three psychological questionnaires before and after the eight-week program of AEON-HO, and the results of scales were compared. Participants were 36 adults with a mean age of 49 years ( SD = 3.9). Changes in two attachment styles, anxiety and avoidance and depressive state, were observed between pre- and posttest, while there were no significant changes in self-actualization. However, attachment anxiety and self-actualization were correlated negatively in pre- and posttest, while attachment avoidance and self-actualization were correlated negatively only in pretest.

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Aerobic Exercise Reduces Pressure More Than Heat Pain Sensitivity in Healthy Adults

Pain Medicine ◽

10.1093/pm/pny289 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (8) ◽

pp. 1534-1546 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Matthew D Jones ◽

James L Nuzzo ◽

Janet L Taylor ◽

Benjamin K Barry

Keyword(s):

Evoked Potentials ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Tibialis Anterior ◽

Pain Sensitivity ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Heat Pain ◽

Laser Evoked Potentials ◽

Pain Thresholds ◽

Pain Ratings ◽

Exercise Induced

Abstract Objectives The hypoalgesic effects of exercise are well described, but there are conflicting findings for different modalities of pain; in particular for mechanical vs thermal noxious stimuli, which are the most commonly used in studies of exercise-induced hypoalgesia. The aims of this study were 1) to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on pressure and heat pain thresholds that were well equated with regard to their temporal and spatial profile and 2) to identify whether changes in the excitability of nociceptive pathways—measured using laser-evoked potentials—accompany exercise-induced hypoalgesia. Subjects Sixteen healthy adults recruited from the University of New South Wales. Methods Pressure and heat pain thresholds and pain ratings to laser stimulation and laser-evoked potentials were measured before and after aerobic cycling exercise and an equivalent period of light activity. Results Pressure pain thresholds increased substantially after exercise (rectus femoris: 29.6%, d = 0.82, P < 0.001; tibialis anterior: 26.9%, d = 0.61, P < 0.001), whereas heat pain thresholds did not (tibialis anterior: 4.2%, d = 0.30, P = 0.27; foot: 0.44%, d = 0.02, P = 1). Laser-evoked potentials and laser heat pain ratings also changed minimally after exercise (d = −0.59 to 0.3, P > 0.06). Conclusions This is the first investigation to compare the effects of exercise on pressure and heat pain using the same stimulation site and pattern. The results show that aerobic exercise reduces mechanical pain sensitivity more than thermal pain sensitivity.

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Social Cognition and Attachment Profiles of Fibromyalgia Syndrome Patients in Comparison with Healthy Subjects

10.22541/au.162079429.90749485/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Beycan Gözde Ayhan ◽

BASAR AYRIBAS ◽

Canan Sanal ◽

Pemra Cöbek Ünalan

Keyword(s):

Social Cognition ◽

Attachment Style ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Fibromyalgia Syndrome ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Control Group ◽

Sociological Factors ◽

Significant Difference

Background: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic syndrome primarily characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. Although its etiology is not fully understood, complex interactions between biological, genetic and psycho-sociological factors thought to be effective in the onset and maintenance of FMS. Psychological factors could be explained by social cognitive concepts, which include mentalizing other person’s intentions, beliefs, behaviors and attachment styles. Objectives: In this study we aimed to examine social cognitive and attachment profiles of FMS patients. Methods: The participants were recruited from Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital. Sociodemographic data were questioned in both groups while FMS group was also administered Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) to determine disease severity. In order to evaluate social cognition profiles of the participants, Reading Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), Empathy Quotient (EQ) and Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised were applied by the same researcher. Results: 41 women with FMS and 44 healthy women matched for education and age were involved in the study. There was no significant difference in sociodemographic parameters between FMS and control groups. FMS patients did not differ significantly from control subjects in means of RMET and EQ scores. Although no significant difference found between attachment anxiety, FMS patients were found to have more avoidant attachment style than control group. Conclusion: FMS patients may have no social cognition impairments, especially in lack of any psychiatric comorbidities. Moreover, these patients may suffer from avoidant type of insecure attachment and this attachment style may effect social support seeking behaviour of these patients.

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Attachment Style, Complicated Grief and Post-Traumatic Growth in Traumatic Loss: The Role of Intrusive and Deliberate Rumination

Psychiatry Investigation ◽

10.30773/pi.2019.0291 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (7) ◽

pp. 636-644

Author(s):

Hyu Jung Huh ◽

Kyung Hee Kim ◽

Hee-Kyung Lee ◽

Jeong-Ho Chae

Keyword(s):

Attachment Style ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Complicated Grief ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Traumatic Loss ◽

Attachment Avoidance ◽

Post Traumatic Growth ◽

Post Traumatic

Objective The present study examines the effects of attachment styles on the grief response and the indirect effect of rumination in parents who lost a child in the Sewol Ferry accident.Methods Bereaved parents (n=81) completed self-report questionnaires evaluating their attachment style (Experience in Close Relationship-Short form), traumatic loss related rumination (Event-Related Rumination Inventory), degree of complicated grief (Inventory of Complicated Grief), and post-traumatic growth (Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory). Data were analyzed using correlation analysis, structural equation modeling, and bootstrapping.Results The indirect effect of event-related intrusive rumination was significant in the relationship between attachment avoidance and complicated grief. The path from attachment avoidance to post-traumatic growth via deliberate rumination was not significant. With respect toattachment anxiety and post-traumatic growth, the indirect effect of deliberate rumination was significant. But the indirect effect of intrusive rumination was not significant in the relationships among attachment anxiety, complicated grief, and post-traumatic growth.Conclusion Individuals with attachment anxiety could obtain post-traumatic growth via deliberate rumination. By contrast, attachment avoidance was associated with the risk of maladaptive grief. Grief interventions should account for individual differences in attachment styles through interventions that manage intrusive rumination and strengthen deliberate rumination.

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546 - Attachment, loneliness, and depression among residents in long-term care (LTC) homes

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610221002416 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. 88-89

Author(s):

Suthikarn Arunrasameesopa ◽

Tinakon Wongpakaran ◽

Nahathai Wongpakaran

Keyword(s):

Los Angeles ◽

Attachment Style ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Anxious Attachment ◽

Term Care ◽

The Mean

Background:Little is known regarding attachment styles among residents in long-term care homes and the relationship with depression and lonelinessResearch Objective:The study evaluated the distribution of attachment among residents in long-term care (LTC) homes and identified their association with depression and loneliness.Method:This study involved 132 residents in LTC homes in Thailand. All of them were cognitively intact based on Mini-Cog. The Thai version of the Experiences of Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (ECR-R-18), the Relationships Questionnaire (RQ) were used to assess attachment. The Thai version of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-6) and the 6-item Revised version of The University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (RULS-6) were completed.Preliminary results of the ongoing study:Participants included 85 females (64.4%) with mean age 74.89 (SD 7.89) years. The mean number of years of education was 6.81(SD 4.46) years. Most of the attachment styles were insecure (60.7%). The distribution of attachment style was 39.4% for secure, 15.2% for fearful, 16.7% for preoccupied, and 28.8% for dismissing. The mean score of attachment- anxiety was 3.58 and of attachment-avoidance was 3.61. Mean GDS score was 1.17 (SD 1.58), while depression based on the GDS cut-off was found in 31.1% of the residents. Mean RULS score was 2.36 (SD 0.75). Factors associated with Depression includes male (c2= 4.50, p <.05), anxious attachment (t = 3.51, p = 0.001) and loneliness (t = 4.90, p <0.001). Anxious attachment was associated with loneliness (p <0.001) and depression score (p <0.001), while avoidant attachment was not.Conclusion:The majority attachment style among residents in LTC homes is insecure attachment, with dismissing style the most prevalent. Attachment with high anxiety i.e., preoccupied, and fearful was associated with loneliness and depression.

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