Insecure family bases and adolescent drug abuse: a new approach to family patterns of attachment.
A new approach to assessing family attachment patterns is presented, using a composite measure of individual attachment representations based on the Bartholomew Attachment Interview. A cluster analysis yielded three different patterns in a sample of N = 37 families with a drug dependent adolescent (age 14 - 25) and both biological parents. A "triangulated" pattern (mothers: preoccupied; fathers: dismissing; adolescents: fearful) was found in 65% of the sample. A total of 19% showed an "insecure" pattern (mothers, fathers, and adolescents: fearful) and 16% a "near-secure" pattern (mothers and adolescents: secure; fathers preoccupied). Preliminary comparisons between these groups indicate differences in comorbid psychiatric disorders, in individual and family functioning, but not in addiction severity. There is a trend towards differences in outcome of family therapy. Implications for treatment and further research are discussed.
Schindler
Andreas
A
Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. a.schindler@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Thomasius
Rainer
R
Sack
Peter-Michael
PM
Gemeinhardt
Brigitte
B
Küstner
Udo
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*