Attachment and coping in psychosis in relation to spiritual figures

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Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_FCA98057A04E
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Attachment and coping in psychosis in relation to spiritual figures
Journal
BMC Psychiatry
Author(s)
Huguelet Philippe, Mohr Sylvia, Rieben Isabelle, Hasler Roland, Perroud Nader, Brandt Pierre-Yves
ISSN
1471-244X (Electronic)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2015
Volume
15
Number
1
Pages
237
Language
english
Abstract
Background: Studies have found higher levels of insecure attachment in individuals with schizophrenia. Attachment theory provides a framework necessary for conceptualizing the development of interpersonal functioning. Some aspects of the attachment of the believer to his/her spiritual figure are similar to those between the child and his/her parents. The correspondence hypothesis suggests that early child-parent interactions correspond to a person's relation to a spiritual figure. The compensation hypothesis suggests that an insecure attachment history would lead to a strong religiousness/spirituality as a compensation for the lack of felt security. The aim of this study is to explore attachment models in psychosis vs. healthy controls, the relationships between attachment and psychopathology and the attachment processes related to spiritual figures.
Methods: Attachment models were measured in 30 patients with psychosis and 18 controls with the AAI (Adult Attachment interview) in relationship with psychopathology. Beliefs and practices related to a spiritual figure were investigated by qualitative and quantitative analyses.
Results: Patients with psychosis showed a high prevalence of insecure avoidant attachment. Spiritual entities functioned like attachment figures in two thirds of cases. Interviews revealed the transformation of internal working models within relation to a spiritual figure: a compensation process was found in 7 of the 32 subjects who showed a significant attachment to a spiritual figure.
Conclusions: Attachment theory allows us to highlight one of the underlying dimensions of spiritual coping in patients with psychosis.
Keywords
Attachment, Psychosis, Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), Symptoms, Spiritual coping, Schizophrenia
Open Access
Yes
Create date
08/10/2015 12:00
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:27
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