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Attachment Style and Self-Experience

Justine de With, L. de Haan, F. Schirmbeck

Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 2023

1 citation

Abstract

Abstract The present study aimed to examine the cross-sectional association between attachment style and self-reported disturbed self-awareness (disturbed sense of mineness of experiences) and depersonalization (disturbed sense of first-person perspective) in patients with psychotic disorders, unaffected siblings, and healthy controls. Data pertain to a subsample of the GROUP (Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis) study. We found positive associations between anxious attachment and disturbed self-awareness and depersonalization across participants with different psychosis vulnerability. We also found a positive association between avoidant attachment and depersonalization, although on a trend level. Findings indicate that attachment style is associated with self-reported disturbed self-awareness and depersonalization over and above the influence of psychotic or depressive experiences in people across the vulnerability spectrum of psychosis. This supports the importance of attachment style, self-awareness, and depersonalization as potential targets in prevention and treatment interventions in patients with psychotic disorders or those with increased vulnerability.

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Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.

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