scholarly journals Perinatal Depression and Patterns of Attachment: A Critical Risk Factor?

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Meuti ◽  
Franca Aceti ◽  
Nicoletta Giacchetti ◽  
Giuseppe Mattia Carluccio ◽  
Michela Zaccagni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Perinatal Depression ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Severity Of Depression

Background. This study aims to verify if the presence and severity of perinatal depression are related to any particular pattern of attachment.Methods. The study started with a screening of a sample of 453 women in their third trimester of pregnancy, who were administered a survey data form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Experience in Close Relationship (ECR). A clinical group of subjects with perinatal depression (PND, 89 subjects) was selected and compared with a control group (C), regarding psychopathological variables and attachment patterns.Results. The ECR showed a prevalence of “Fearful-Avoidant” attachment style in PND group (29.2% versus 1.1%,p<0.001); additionally, the EPDS average score increases with the increasing of ECR dimensions (Avoidance and Anxiety).Conclusion. The severity of depression increases proportionally to attachment disorganization; therefore, we consider attachment as both an important risk factor as well as a focus for early psychotherapeutic intervention.

Focusing on the adult attachment style in schizophrenia in community mental health centres: Validation of the Psychosis Attachment Measure (PAM) in a German-speaking sample

2011 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 362-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Kvrgic ◽  
Eva-Marina Beck ◽  
Marialuisa Cavelti ◽  
Joe Kossowsky ◽  
Rolf-Dieter Stieglitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Treatment Adherence ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Therapeutic Relationship ◽  
Factor Structure ◽  
German Version ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Avoidant Attachment

Background: Assessing attachment style in people with schizophrenia may be important to identify a risk factor in building a strong therapeutic relationship and so indirectly to understand the development of mal-compliance as one of the major obstacles in the treatment of schizophrenia. Aims: The present study analysed the psychometric properties of the German version of the Psychosis Attachment Measure (PAM), which assesses avoidant and anxious attachment style. Methods: A sample of 127 patients suffering from chronic schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder participated in this study. In testing discriminant validity, we assessed psychopathology, depression, therapeutic relationship and service engagement. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability and factor structure were analysed. Results: The German version of PAM exhibited acceptable to good internal and test-retest reliabilities and the two-factor structure of the English version could be replicated. Avoidant attachment style was related to higher levels of positive symptoms and to a poorer therapeutic relationship. In the context of external validation, a regression analysis revealed that a poor therapeutic relationship correlated with avoidant attachment style, independent of anxious attachment style and depressive symptoms. Anxious attachment was associated with higher treatment adherence. Both insecure attachment styles (avoidant and anxious) were found to be correlated with higher levels of depression, but only attachment anxiety had an independent predictive value for self-reported depression in regression analysis. Conclusions: The German version of PAM displayed satisfactory psychometric properties and seems to be a reliable measure for assessing attachment style in individuals with schizophrenia. Validation of PAM led to the finding that only the avoidant attachment style might be a risk factor when building a strong therapeutic relationship in schizophrenia. In future studies, other factors influencing therapeutic relationship should be taken into account. Anxious attachment style may be a risk factor for depression, but it also has an enhancing effect on treatment adherence.

Differences in plasma concentration of acylethanolanydes and acylglycerols in paired samples of bipolar patients and first- and second-degree relatives

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S340-S340
Author(s):  
P. Romero-Sanchiz ◽  
J. Guzman-Parra ◽  
F. Mayoral-Cleríes ◽  
F. Rivas-Guerrero ◽  
P. Araos-Gómez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
Bipolar Disorders ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Bipolar Patients ◽  
Second Degree

IntroductionEndocannabinoid System (ECS) has been highlighted as one of the most relevant research topics by neurobiologists, pharmacists, basic scientists and clinicians (Skaper and Di Marzo, 2012). Recent work has associated major depressive disorder with the ECS (Ashton and Moore, 2011). Despite the close relationship between depression and bipolar disorders, as far as we know, there is no characterization of ECS and congeners in a sample of patients with bipolar disorders.Aims and objectivesThe objective of this work is to characterize the plasma levels of endocannabinoids and congeners in a sample of patients with bipolar disorders.MethodThe clinical group was composed by 19 patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorders using SCID-IV (First et al., 1999). The control group was formed by 18 relatives of first- or second-degree of the patients.The following endocannabinoids and congeners were quantified: N-palmitoleoylethanolamide (POEA), N-palmitolylethanolamide (PEA), N-oleoylethanolamide (OEA), N-stearoylethanolamide (SEA), N-arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA), N-dihomo-γ-linolenoylethanolamide (DGLEA), N-docosatetraenoylethanolamide (DEA), N-linoleoylethanolamide (LEA), N-docosahexaenoylethanolamide (DHEA), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), 2-linoleoylglycerol (2-LG), and 2-oleoylglycerol (2-OG).ResultsThe result showed statistically significant lower levels of AEA, DEA and DHEA in clinical sample. Previous research also identified lower levels of AEA in depressed women (Hill et al., 2008, 2009). Until date, it is unknown if DEA and DHEA have some effect on EC receptors, and whether they have some direct effects on endocannabinoids.ConclusionsIt would be necessary to carry our other research with a larger sample, which could allow the control of potential confounding variables.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Depressive Symptoms in Elderly With Glaucoma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José de Paula Barbosa Neto ◽  
Luiz Eduardo Fernandes Lima ◽  
Matheus Carvalho Vasconcelos ◽  
Luis Eduardo Reis Amaral ◽  
Lise Queiroz Lima Verde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Clinical History ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Geriatric Depression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Glaucoma Group

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the presence of depressive symptoms in elderly people with glaucoma and other clinical and epidemiological factors that were associated to the presence depression.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Hospital de Olhos Leiria de Andrade, including volunteers aged 60 years or over. Individuals were separated into patients with glaucoma and patients without glaucoma. Volunteers responded a questionnaire, containing data from clinical history and the Geriatric Depression Scale – 15, and were submitted to a complete ophthalmological evaluation.Results: Overall, 42 patients in the glaucoma group and 40 patients in the non-glaucoma group were evaluated. The mean age among cases was 70.2 years, while in the control group it was 65.7 years. The evaluation of the Geriatric Depression Scale – 15 showed an average score of 4.21 and 3.82 in the case and control groups, respectively, with no statistical difference. However, the worsening of visual acuity was related to a greater number of depressive symptoms when comparing individuals with glaucoma. When analyzing the correlation between age, in both groups, and the number of depressive symptoms, there was no statistical significance.Conclusion: The presence of glaucoma was not associated with an increase in the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 score. However, the worsening in visual acuity was correlated to a greater number of depressive symptoms.

scholarly journals Relationships between Attachment Style and Depression Level among Undergraduate Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Amalia Madihie 1 ◽  
Azlan Bin Andika ◽  
Fiona Anak Kunang ◽  
Diyana Syazana Binti Omar ◽  
Debra Bte Simar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
P Value ◽  
Relationship Problem ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Depression Level ◽  
Pearson Correlation Analysis

This study was conducted to identify the depression level of university student in Sarawak based on four types of attachment style. Therefore, undergraduate (UG) students from a university as sample for this study. Three hundred and sixty UG students were randomly chosen to be the respondents for this study since the population was 2200 UG students in a faculty. Questionnaire was employed in the study to collect required information or data. Questionnaire consists of three parts which are Section A: Demographic of respondents, Section B: Experience in Close Relationship Test (ECR), and Section C: Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). ECR applied to determine the attachment style of students and CES-D used to identify the level of depression of students. As for the data analysis, Pearson Correlation Analysis was carried out.  Finding showed there was significant relationship between attachment style and depression level among the UG students where the p-value (0.000) is smaller than alpha value (0.005).  Expertise could utilize the findings of study to develop some suitable module of intervention to help client suffer from depression due to relationship problem.

scholarly journals Machiavellianism and Adult Attachment in General Interpersonal Relationships and Close Relationships

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamás Ináncsi ◽  
András Láng ◽  
Tamás Bereczkei
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Significant Others ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Distance Regulation ◽  
The Relationship

Up to the present, the relationship between Machiavellianism and adult attachment has remained a question to be answered in the psychological literature. That is why this study focused on the relationship between Machiavellianism and attachment towards significant others in general interpersonal relationships and in intimate-close relationships. Two attachment tests (Relationship Questionnaire and long-form of Experiences in Close Relationship) and the Mach-IV test were conducted on a sample consisting of 185 subjects. Results have revealed that Machiavellian subjects show a dismissing-avoidant attachment style in their general interpersonal relationships, while avoidance is further accompanied by some characteristics of attachment anxiety in their intimate-close relationships. Our findings further refine the relationship between Machiavellianism and dismissing-avoidant attachment. Machiavellian individuals not only have a negative representation of significant others, but they also tend to seek symbiotic closeness in order to exploit their partners. This ambitendency in distance regulation might be particularly important in understanding the vulnerability of Machiavellian individuals.

scholarly journals Cutaneous body image in psoriasis: The role of attachment style and alexithymia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Troisi ◽  
Roberta Croce Nanni ◽  
Alessandro Giunta ◽  
Valeria Manfreda ◽  
Ester Del Duca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Body Dissatisfaction ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Avoidant Attachment

AbstractThe aim of this study was to estimate the contribution of adult attachment style and alexithymia to cutaneous body image in patients with psoriasis while controlling for the confounding effects of disease severity and depressive symptoms. Participants were 107 consecutive patients (60% women) with a diagnosis of plaque-type psoriasis. Cutaneous body dissatisfaction was measured with the Cutaneous Body Image Scale (CBIS) and disease severity with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Depressive symptoms, attachment style and alexithymia were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), respectively. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that, independently from the severity of skin disease and depressive symptoms, patients with an insecure-avoidant attachment style and higher levels of alexithymia reported greater cutaneous body dissatisfaction. Because of the cross-sectional design, the causal relationship between avoidant attachment, alexithymia and cutaneous body image cannot be determined. There was no control group. Clinical assessment of patients with psoriasis should include attachment style and alexithymia among the psychological variables related to cutaneous body dissatisfaction.

scholarly journals MMPI-2: Cluster Analysis of Personality Profiles in Perinatal Depression—Preliminary Evidence

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Meuti ◽  
Isabella Marini ◽  
Alessandra Grillo ◽  
Marco Lauriola ◽  
Carlo Leone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Perinatal Depression ◽  
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Personality Profiles

Background. To assess personality characteristics of women who develop perinatal depression.Methods. The study started with a screening of a sample of 453 women in their third trimester of pregnancy, to which was administered a survey data form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2). A clinical group of subjects with perinatal depression (PND, 55 subjects) was selected; clinical and validity scales of MMPI-2 were used as predictors in hierarchical cluster analysis carried out.Results. The analysis identified three clusters of personality profile: two “clinical” clusters (1 and 3) and an “apparently common” one (cluster 2). The first cluster (39.5%) collects structures of personality with prevalent obsessive or dependent functioning tending to develop a “psychasthenic” depression; the third cluster (13.95%) includes women with prevalent borderline functioning tending to develop “dysphoric” depression; the second cluster (46.5%) shows a normal profile with a “defensive” attitude, probably due to the presence of defense mechanisms or to the fear of stigma.Conclusion. Characteristics of personality have a key role in clinical manifestations of perinatal depression; it is important to detect them to identify mothers at risk and to plan targeted therapeutic interventions.

Interactive Influences of Narcissism and Self-Esteem on Insecure Attachment in Early Adolescence

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 966-987
Author(s):  
Meenakshi Menon ◽  
Harriet C. A. Moyes ◽  
Christina M. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Adolescent Boys ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Relationship Partners ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Preoccupied Attachment

We hypothesized that in adolescence, maladaptive narcissism interacts with low self-esteem to predict a preoccupied attachment style ( attachment for self-affirmation hypothesis), and with high self-esteem to predict an avoidant attachment style ( attachment for self-enhancement hypothesis). We expected gender differences in narcissistic adolescents’ attachment strategies, with girls more likely to be motivated to self-affirm, and boys more likely to self-enhance. Early adolescents in England ( N = 306, 156 girls, 150 boys, [Formula: see text] age = 13.38 years) responded to self-report measures of narcissism, self-esteem, and attachment styles to mother and a friend. Results supported the attachment for self-enhancement hypothesis only. For adolescent boys (but not girls) with high self-esteem, narcissism was associated with higher avoidant attachment toward the mother and a friend. The results suggest that maladaptive narcissism might derail normative separation-individuation processes in adolescent boys, thus contributing to their adoption of an avoidant attachment style with close relationship partners.

scholarly journals Inflammatory versus Anti-Inflammatory Profiles in Major Depressive Disorders—The Role of IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, IL-35 and Foxp3

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Gałecka ◽  
Katarzyna Bliźniewska-Kowalska ◽  
Agata Orzechowska ◽  
Janusz Szemraj ◽  
Michael Maes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Inflammatory Factors ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Hamilton Depression Scale ◽  
Major Depressive Disorders ◽  
Severity Of Depression

Background: The authors of this research study intended to verify whether there are any changes in gene expression in depressed patients without coexisting inflammatory diseases for selected immune-inflammatory factors that are particularly important in autoimmune disease pathogenesis (IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, IL-35, Foxp3). Methods: The study was carried out on a group of 190 patients with depression and 100 healthy volunteers. The severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale. RT-PCR was used to evaluate mRNA expression and ELISA was used to measure protein expression of these genes. Results: The level of gene expression for IL-17, IL-21, IL-23, and IL-35 was substantially higher in the group of patients with depression compared to the control group. The mean mRNA expression of Foxp3 was considerably reduced in patients suffering from depressive disorders. There was a statistically significant correlation between the number of hospitalizations and the expression of specific inflammatory factors. Conclusions: Expression of specific inflammatory genes may be a factor in the etiopathogenesis of depressive disorders. The duration of the disease seems to be more important for the expression of the genes in question than the severity of depression. These cytokines may affect the metabolism of neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine functions in the brain as well as be a marker and a new potential therapeutic target for recurrent depressive disorders.

scholarly journals Dissociation in patients with dissociative seizures: relationships with trauma and seizure symptoms

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 1215-1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Pick ◽  
J. D. C. Mellers ◽  
L. H. Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Somatoform Dissociation ◽  
Dissociative Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Traumatic Symptoms

BackgroundThis study aimed to extend the current understanding of dissociative symptoms experienced by patients with dissociative (psychogenic, non-epileptic) seizures (DS), including psychological and somatoform types of symptomatology. An additional aim was to assess possible relationships between dissociation, traumatic experiences, post-traumatic symptoms and seizure manifestations in this group.MethodA total of 40 patients with DS were compared with a healthy control group (n = 43), matched on relevant demographic characteristics. Participants completed several self-report questionnaires, including the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI), Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire-20, Traumatic Experiences Checklist and the Post-Traumatic Diagnostic Scale. Measures of seizure symptoms and current emotional distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were also administered.ResultsThe clinical group reported significantly more psychological and somatoform dissociative symptoms, trauma, perceived impact of trauma, and post-traumatic symptoms than controls. Some dissociative symptoms (i.e. MDI disengagement, MDI depersonalization, MDI derealization, MDI memory disturbance, and somatoform dissociation scores) were elevated even after controlling for emotional distress; MDI depersonalization scores correlated positively with trauma scores while seizure symptoms correlated with MDI depersonalization, derealization and identity dissociation scores. Exploratory analyses indicated that somatoform dissociation specifically mediated the relationship between reported sexual abuse and DS diagnosis, along with depressive symptoms.ConclusionsA range of psychological and somatoform dissociative symptoms, traumatic experiences and post-traumatic symptoms are elevated in patients with DS relative to healthy controls, and seem related to seizure manifestations. Further studies are needed to explore peri-ictal dissociative experiences in more detail.

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