Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 11/2014

01.11.2014 | Original Paper

Childhood maltreatment, adult attachment and psychotic symptomatology: a study in patients, siblings and controls

verfasst von: D. S. van Dam, N. Korver-Nieberg, E. Velthorst, C. J. Meijer, L. de Haan, For Genetic Risk and Outcome in Psychosis (GROUP)

Erschienen in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Ausgabe 11/2014

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Purpose

The association between childhood maltreatment (ChM) and psychotic disorders is well established. However, there is an ongoing debate about which factors account for this relationship. One explanation is that the relationship between ChM and psychosis is mediated by adult attachment style. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate whether adult attachment style mediates the relationship between ChM and positive and negative symptomatology.

Methods

We investigated the relation between ChM and psychotic symptoms, taking into account levels of (insecure) attachment, in 131 patients with psychotic illness, 123 siblings and 72 controls. ChM was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance were measured using the Psychosis Attachment Measure (PAM).

Results

In both patients and siblings, ChM predicted positive symptoms and this relationship was partly mediated by attachment style. This relationship was found to be stronger for siblings than for patients. ChM predicted negative symptoms in patients and siblings. In the patient sample, attachment style did not mediate the relationship between ChM and negative symptoms, whereas attachment style was found to be a mediator in the sibling sample.

Conclusions

ChM was associated with positive and negative symptomatology in both patients and siblings. Particularly in siblings, the relationship between ChM and psychosis seems to be mediated by adult attachment style. Perhaps attachment style may play a more prominent role on a subclinical level.
Anhänge
Nur mit Berechtigung zugänglich
Literatur
1.
Zurück zum Zitat Varese F, Smeets F, Drukker M, Lieverse R, Lataster T, Viechtbauer W et al (2012) Childhood adversities increase the risk of psychosis: a meta-analysis of patient-control, prospective- and cross-sectional cohort studies. Schizophr Bull 38(4):661–671. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbs050 PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentral Varese F, Smeets F, Drukker M, Lieverse R, Lataster T, Viechtbauer W et al (2012) Childhood adversities increase the risk of psychosis: a meta-analysis of patient-control, prospective- and cross-sectional cohort studies. Schizophr Bull 38(4):661–671. doi:10.​1093/​schbul/​sbs050 PubMedCrossRefPubMedCentral
3.
Zurück zum Zitat Heins M, Simons C, Lataster T, Pfeifer S, Versmissen D, Lardinois M et al (2011) Childhood trauma and psychosis: a case-control and case-sibling comparison across different levels of genetic liability, psychopathology, and type of trauma. Am J Psychiatry 168(12):1286–1294. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.10101531 PubMed Heins M, Simons C, Lataster T, Pfeifer S, Versmissen D, Lardinois M et al (2011) Childhood trauma and psychosis: a case-control and case-sibling comparison across different levels of genetic liability, psychopathology, and type of trauma. Am J Psychiatry 168(12):1286–1294. doi:10.​1176/​appi.​ajp.​2011.​10101531 PubMed
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Korver-Nieberg N, Berry K, Meijer CJ, Haan L (2013) Adult attachment and psychotic phenomenology in clinical and non-clinical samples: A systematic review. Psychol Psychother Theory Res Pract. doi:10.1111/papt.12010 Korver-Nieberg N, Berry K, Meijer CJ, Haan L (2013) Adult attachment and psychotic phenomenology in clinical and non-clinical samples: A systematic review. Psychol Psychother Theory Res Pract. doi:10.​1111/​papt.​12010
8.
Zurück zum Zitat Read J, Gumley A (2008) Can attachment theory help explain the relationship between childhood adversity and psychosis? Attach New Dir Psychother Relat Psychoanal 2:1–35 Read J, Gumley A (2008) Can attachment theory help explain the relationship between childhood adversity and psychosis? Attach New Dir Psychother Relat Psychoanal 2:1–35
9.
Zurück zum Zitat Gumley AI, Taylor HEF, Schwannauer M, MacBeth A (2013) A systematic review of attachment and psychosis: measurement, construct validity and outcomes. Acta Psychiatr Scand. doi:10.1111/acps.12172 Gumley AI, Taylor HEF, Schwannauer M, MacBeth A (2013) A systematic review of attachment and psychosis: measurement, construct validity and outcomes. Acta Psychiatr Scand. doi:10.​1111/​acps.​12172
10.
Zurück zum Zitat Mikulincer M, Shaver PR (2007) Attachment in adulthood: structure, dynamics and change. Guilford Press, New York Mikulincer M, Shaver PR (2007) Attachment in adulthood: structure, dynamics and change. Guilford Press, New York
12.
Zurück zum Zitat Gracie A, Freeman D, Green S, Garety PA, Kuipers E, Hardy A, Ray K, Dunn G, Bebbington P, Fowler D (2007) The association between traumatic experience, paranoia and hallucinations: a test of the predictions of psychological models. Acta Psychiatr Scand 116(4):280–289. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.01011.x PubMedCrossRef Gracie A, Freeman D, Green S, Garety PA, Kuipers E, Hardy A, Ray K, Dunn G, Bebbington P, Fowler D (2007) The association between traumatic experience, paranoia and hallucinations: a test of the predictions of psychological models. Acta Psychiatr Scand 116(4):280–289. doi:10.​1111/​j.​1600-0447.​2007.​01011.​x PubMedCrossRef
13.
Zurück zum Zitat Lumley MN, Harkness KL (2007) Specificity in the relations among childhood adversity, early maladaptive schemas, and symptom profiles in adolescent depression. Cogn Ther Res 31(5):639–657. doi:10.1007/s10608-006-9100-3 CrossRef Lumley MN, Harkness KL (2007) Specificity in the relations among childhood adversity, early maladaptive schemas, and symptom profiles in adolescent depression. Cogn Ther Res 31(5):639–657. doi:10.​1007/​s10608-006-9100-3 CrossRef
16.
Zurück zum Zitat Buck NML, Cima M, Lancel M, van Marle HJC (2012) On the explanation of the hostile attributional bias: traumatic experiences, schemas, and migrant status. J Aggress Maltreatment Trauma 21(2):223–236. doi:10.1080/10926771.2012.639051 CrossRef Buck NML, Cima M, Lancel M, van Marle HJC (2012) On the explanation of the hostile attributional bias: traumatic experiences, schemas, and migrant status. J Aggress Maltreatment Trauma 21(2):223–236. doi:10.​1080/​10926771.​2012.​639051 CrossRef
17.
20.
Zurück zum Zitat Velthorst E, Nieman DH, Becker HE, van de Fliert R, Dingemans PM, Klaassen R et al (2009) Baseline differences in clinical symptomatology between ultra high risk subjects with and without a transition to psychosis. Schizophr Res 109(1–3):60–65. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2009.02.002 PubMedCrossRef Velthorst E, Nieman DH, Becker HE, van de Fliert R, Dingemans PM, Klaassen R et al (2009) Baseline differences in clinical symptomatology between ultra high risk subjects with and without a transition to psychosis. Schizophr Res 109(1–3):60–65. doi:10.​1016/​j.​schres.​2009.​02.​002 PubMedCrossRef
23.
Zurück zum Zitat van Os J, Linscott RJ, Myin-Germeys I, Delespaul P, Krabbendam L (2009) A systematic review and meta-analysis of the psychosis continuum: evidence for a psychosis proneness–persistence–impairment model of psychotic disorder. Psychol Med 39(2):179–195. doi:10.1017/S0033291708003814 PubMedCrossRef van Os J, Linscott RJ, Myin-Germeys I, Delespaul P, Krabbendam L (2009) A systematic review and meta-analysis of the psychosis continuum: evidence for a psychosis proneness–persistence–impairment model of psychotic disorder. Psychol Med 39(2):179–195. doi:10.​1017/​S003329170800381​4 PubMedCrossRef
24.
Zurück zum Zitat McGrath J, Welham J, Scott J, Varghese D, Degenhardt L, Alati R, Williams GM, Bor W, Najman JM (2010) Association between cannabis use and psychosis-related outcomes using sibling pair analysis in a cohort of young adults. Arch Gen Psychiatry 67(5):440–447. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.6 PubMedCrossRef McGrath J, Welham J, Scott J, Varghese D, Degenhardt L, Alati R, Williams GM, Bor W, Najman JM (2010) Association between cannabis use and psychosis-related outcomes using sibling pair analysis in a cohort of young adults. Arch Gen Psychiatry 67(5):440–447. doi:10.​1001/​archgenpsychiatr​y.​2010.​6 PubMedCrossRef
25.
Zurück zum Zitat Korver N, Quee PJ, Boos H, Simons CJ, Haan L (2012) Genetic risk and outcome of psychosis (GROUP), a multi site longitudinal cohort study focused on gene–environment interaction: objectives, sample characteristics, recruitment and assessment methods. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 21(3):205–221. doi:10.1002/mpr.1352 PubMedCrossRef Korver N, Quee PJ, Boos H, Simons CJ, Haan L (2012) Genetic risk and outcome of psychosis (GROUP), a multi site longitudinal cohort study focused on gene–environment interaction: objectives, sample characteristics, recruitment and assessment methods. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 21(3):205–221. doi:10.​1002/​mpr.​1352 PubMedCrossRef
28.
Zurück zum Zitat Andreasen NC (1984) Scale for the assessment of positive symptoms (SAPS). University of Iowa, Iowa City Andreasen NC (1984) Scale for the assessment of positive symptoms (SAPS). University of Iowa, Iowa City
32.
34.
36.
37.
38.
Zurück zum Zitat Liotti G, Gumley A (2008) An attachment perspective on schizophrenia: the role of disorganized attachment, dissociation and mentalization. Psychosis, trauma and dissociation: Emerging perspectives on severe psychopathology. In: Moskowitz A, Dorahy M, Schaefer I (eds) Psychosis, trauma and dissociation. Wiley, New York, pp 117–133CrossRef Liotti G, Gumley A (2008) An attachment perspective on schizophrenia: the role of disorganized attachment, dissociation and mentalization. Psychosis, trauma and dissociation: Emerging perspectives on severe psychopathology. In: Moskowitz A, Dorahy M, Schaefer I (eds) Psychosis, trauma and dissociation. Wiley, New York, pp 117–133CrossRef
47.
Zurück zum Zitat Read J (2013) Childhood adversity and psychosis. In: Read J, Dillon J (eds) Models of Madness, 2nd edn. Routledge, New York, pp 249–275 Read J (2013) Childhood adversity and psychosis. In: Read J, Dillon J (eds) Models of Madness, 2nd edn. Routledge, New York, pp 249–275
Metadaten
Titel
Childhood maltreatment, adult attachment and psychotic symptomatology: a study in patients, siblings and controls
verfasst von
D. S. van Dam
N. Korver-Nieberg
E. Velthorst
C. J. Meijer
L. de Haan
For Genetic Risk and Outcome in Psychosis (GROUP)
Publikationsdatum
01.11.2014
Verlag
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Ausgabe 11/2014
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Elektronische ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0894-0

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 11/2014

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 11/2014 Zur Ausgabe

Update Psychiatrie

Bestellen Sie unseren Fach-Newsletter und bleiben Sie gut informiert.