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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01-11-2014 | Original Paper

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

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

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 11/2014

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.

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Title: Childhood maltreatment, adult attachment and psychotic symptomatology: a study in patients, siblings and controls
Authors: D. S. van Dam
N. Korver-Nieberg
E. Velthorst
C. J. Meijer
L. de Haan
For Genetic Risk and Outcome in Psychosis (GROUP)
Publication date: 01-11-2014
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 11/2014
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0894-0

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

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

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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