Adult attachment insecurities are associated with obsessive compulsive disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most disabling and highly prevalent anxiety disorders (ADs). Current cognitive models of OCD implicate views about the self and world in the maintenance of the disorder. However, little research has focused on issues that may lead to vulnerability to such views. In particular, a person's attachment insecurities (attachment anxiety, avoidance) may be important risk factors increasing the likelihood of such non-adaptive perceptions (Doron & Kyrios, 2005).


METHODS
Participants meeting criteria for OCD were compared with cohorts meeting criteria for other ADs and healthy controls on a range of measures including adult attachment, OC symptoms, cognitions, and mood.


METHODS
Diagnosis of the clinical groups was established using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV (Brown, Di Nardo, & Barlow, 1994). The clinical relevance of attachment insecurities was ascertained by comparing their prevalence in an OCD sample (N = 30), an ADs sample (N = 20), and a community sample (N = 32).


RESULTS
Attachment anxiety was significantly higher in individuals with OCD, even when controlling for depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Addressing attachment anxiety in individuals presenting with OCD may be important for enhancing therapeutic outcomes. However, findings are based on cross-sectional data that preclude conclusions relating to causal influence.
School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Israel. gdoron@idc.ac.il
Guy
G
Doron
Richard
R
Moulding
Maja
M
Nedeljkovic
Michael
M
Kyrios
Mario
M
Mikulincer
Dar
D
Sar-El
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D058443:Catastrophization; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009769:Object Attachment; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011582:Psychological Theory; D055815:Young Adult