title: Attachment Styles of Dermatological Patients in Europe: A Multi-centre Study in 13 Countries.
abstract: Attachment styles of dermatological outpatients and satisfaction with their dermatologists were investigated within the framework of a multicentre study conducted in 13 European countries, organized by the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry. Attachment style was assessed with the Adult Attachment Scale. Patient satisfaction with the dermatologist was assessed with an 11-degree scale. A total of 3,635 adult outpatients and 1,359 controls participated in the study. Dermatological outpatients were less able to depend on others, were less comfortable with closeness and intimacy, and experienced similar rates of anxiety in relationships as did the controls. Participants who had secure attachment styles reported stressful life events during the last 6 months significantly less often than those who had insecure attachment styles. Patients with secure attachment styles tended to be more satisfied with their dermatologist than did insecure patients. These results suggest that secure attachment of dermatological outpatients may be a protective factor in the management of stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 6, 6720 Szeged, Hungary. szabo.csanad@med.u-szeged.hu.
authors.forename: Csanád
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altmayer
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lien
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poot
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gieler
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tomas-Aragones
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kupfer
authors.forename: Gregor B E
authors.initials: GBE
authors.lastname: Jemec
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Misery
authors.forename: M Dennis
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sampogna
authors.forename: Henriët
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Middendorp
authors.forename: Jon Anders
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Halvorsen
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Balieva
authors.forename: Jacek C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Szepietowski
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romanov
authors.forename: Servando E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Marron
authors.forename: Ilknur K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Altunay
authors.forename: Andrew Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Finlay
authors.forename: Sam S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Salek
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dalgard
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000072085:Dermatologists / Q000523:psychology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009769:Object Attachment; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires