[The impact of attachment styles and ADHD on alcohol dependence].
BACKGROUND
Insecure attachment (IA) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are discussed as risk factors for increased alcohol intake and the development of alcoholism.


METHODS
Among a sample of 517 consecutively admitted German inpatients with alcohol dependence we investigated the contribution of IA to alcoholism phenotypes, taking into consideration comorbid ADHD.


RESULTS
IA was significantly associated with increased alcohol consumption, increased frequency of withdrawal symptoms, increased frequency of physical or psychological problems that are likely to have been worsened by alcohol, and reduced social activities because of alcohol use. ADHD has no significant effect on these parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
IA developed as a result of social interactions during childhood long before alcohol dependence. The results point to an important effect of IA on the severity and acceleration of alcohol dependence. Therefore, it might be helpful to improve efforts in primary prevention and psychotherapy of alcohol dependence by considering the specific needs of subjects with an IA.
Ridinger
M
M
Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Universität Regensburg im Bezirksklinikum, Universitätsstrasse 84, 93053, Regensburg. dr.ridinger@web.de
König
S
S
Lange
K
K
Wodarz
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015994:Incidence; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult