Abstract
BackgroundInsecure early attachment experiences have been reported to play an important role in the manifestation in alcoholism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of attachment styles with anxiety, anxiety coping and dysfunctional personality styles, as well as with the prevalence of personality disorders, and adverse life-events in adolescence.Methods59 inpatient alcohol addicted male (n=43) and female (n=16) patients were characterized by an attachment style scale (Relationships-style-questionnaire-RSQ) and completed a questionnaire battery comprising the State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory (STAI), the Anxiety-Coping-Inventory (ABI), Temperament-and-character-inventory (TCI), Personality-system-interaction-inventory (PSI), and gave information on sociodemography, alcohol history, and adolescent adverse events. A structured interview (SKID-II) was performed to diagnose personality disorders.ResultsOnly 33% of subjects had a secure attachment style. Insecure attachment was associated with significantly higher trait-anxiety, higher cognitive avoidance to control anxiety, and higher values on most personality style dimensions directed to the pathological pole.ConclusionsDespite the limitation due to a small sample size, the results of this study show that the consideration of attachment styles is of significance in the diagnosis and therapy of alcohol addiction. Attachment may characterize different styles to control emotional aspects, anxiety cues and interpersonal relationships in individuals suffering from alcohol addiction.
Highlights
Alcohol addiction is a complex disorder with a high overall prevalence [1,2,3] and a high impact on health related and socioeconomic aspects
In order to further clarify this relationship, the present study investigates how secure versus insecure attachment styles in inpatient alcohol addicted subjects correspond with trait anxiety symptoms and anxiety coping style as well as on personality disorders and styles and distinct dimensions of personality characterised by temperament and character-related features according to Cloninger’s tridimensional personality theory [32]
Insecure attachment styles were found in 65% of males and 69% of females and could be distinguished into 24% dismissive, 24% ambivalent, and 19% avoidant
Summary
Alcohol addiction is a complex disorder with a high overall prevalence [1,2,3] and a high impact on health related and socioeconomic aspects. Constant experience of availability and reliability of such a stress-reducing and emotionality regulating object is likely to be associated with a secure attachment style in later life. If this available and reliable attachment is experienced insufficiently, the individuals coping of stress or anxiety is less effective and this may activate epigenetic mechanisms promoting onset of psychiatric disorders later on. Neglected, violated, or traumatised insecurely attached individuals are very likely to apply educational styles which contribute to insecure attachment in their offspring [29] Such children develop behavioural and emotional problems more frequently in childhood and adolescence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of attachment styles with anxiety, anxiety coping and dysfunctional personality styles, as well as with the prevalence of personality disorders, and adverse life-events in adolescence
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