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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Attachment and coping in psychosis in relation to spiritual figures

Authors: Philippe Huguelet, Sylvia Mohr, Isabelle Rieben, Roland Hasler, Nader Perroud, Pierre-Yves Brandt

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2015

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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.
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Metadata
Title
Attachment and coping in psychosis in relation to spiritual figures
Authors
Philippe Huguelet
Sylvia Mohr
Isabelle Rieben
Roland Hasler
Nader Perroud
Pierre-Yves Brandt
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-015-0617-4

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