Adult attachment in bipolar 1 disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how security of adult attachment style is related to the mania, major depression and euthymic mood states in bipolar 1 (BP1) disorder.


METHODS
An observational cross-sectional study.


METHODS
One hundred and seven BP1 patients (34 in a manic type episode, 30 in major depressive episode, and 43 in remission) and 41 healthy controls similar in age, gender, reading age, and education were recruited. The groups were compared on self-reported mean and preferred attachment style controlling for psychiatric comorbidity.


RESULTS
Preferred attachment style was insecure in 84 (78%) BP1 patients but only 13 (32%) healthy controls (chi(2)=34.3, df=3, and p<.001). Healthy controls reported higher secure attachment, lower anxious, and lower preoccupied attachment scores than all groups of patients with bipolar disorder, although the scores for secure attachment in mania and preoccupied attachment in euthymic patients were not significantly different from healthy controls. Overall, within the bipolar groups, anxious attachment style varied little with mood but mania was associated with higher secure and preoccupied attachment style, and depression with higher preoccupied and lower dismissing attachment style scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Insecure attachment is found in most patients with BP1 disorder. Attachment style is affected by mood episodes so it should be assessed when a patient with bipolar disorder is in remission with minimal residual depressive or manic symptoms.
Morriss
Richard K
RK
Division of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham, UK. richard.moriss@nottingham.ac.uk
van der Gucht
Emma
E
Lancaster
Gillian
G
Bentall
Richard P
RP
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult