title: Attachment as an organizer of behavior: implications for substance abuse problems and willingness to seek treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attachment theory allows specific predictions about the role of attachment representations in organizing behavior. Insecure attachment is hypothesized to predict maladaptive emotional regulation whereas secure attachment is hypothesized to predict adaptive emotional regulation. In this paper, we test specific hypotheses about the role of attachment representations in substance abuse/dependence and treatment participation. Based on theory, we expect divergence between levels of maladaptive functioning and adaptive methods of regulating negative emotions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants for this study consist of a sample of adoptees participating in an ongoing longitudinal adoption study (n = 208). The Semi-Structured Assessment of the Genetics of Alcohol-II 41 was used to determine lifetime substance abuse/dependence and treatment participation. Attachment representations were derived by the Adult Attachment Interview [AAI; 16]. We constructed a prior contrasts reflecting theoretical predictions for the association between attachment representations, substance abuse/dependence and treatment participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Logistic regression was used to test our hypotheses. As predicted, individuals classified as dismissing, preoccupied or earned-secure reported the highest rates of substance abuse/dependence. Individuals classified as dismissing reported significantly lower rates of treatment participation despite their high rates of substance abuse/dependence. As expected, the continuous-secure group reported lowest rates of both substance abuse/dependence and treatment participation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings from this study identify attachment representations as an influential factor in understanding the divergence between problematic substance use and treatment utilization. The findings further imply that treatment may need to take attachment representations into account to promote successful recovery.
authors.affiliation: Roy J and Lucille Carver College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. kristin-caspers@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Caspers
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yucuis
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Troutman
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spinks
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000300:Adoption / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001519:Behavior; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult