Association Between Insecure Attachment and ADHD: Environmental Mediating Factors.
OBJECTIVE
Psychological theories have postulated an association between insecure attachment and ADHD. The objective of this study is to investigate possible association between insecure attachment and ADHD in children and adults.


METHODS
Review of literature was performed using the PsycINFO, Medline, and EMBASE databases.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine studies were included in the review. Overall, the studies showed that parental attachment problems and environmental mediating factors were significantly associated with childhood ADHD. Adults with ADHD had a much higher incidence of insecure attachment styles than reported in the general population.


CONCLUSIONS
There seems to be a clear association between ADHD and insecure attachment. It is likely that early intervention in the form of parent training and pharmacological treatment may prevent development of attachment problems. But such studies have not been carried out. Furthermore, adults with ADHD might need treatment for their lack of attachment competences as well. More research on this topic is much needed.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Department, Region Zealand, Denmark ojst@regionsjaelland.dk.
Ole Jakob
OJ
Storebø
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Department, Region Zealand, Denmark.
Pernille Darling
PD
Rasmussen
Psychiatric Research Unit, Region Zealand, Denmark.
Erik
E
Simonsen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D066107:Social Skills
ADHD; attachment; treatment