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Cited by 44Attachment and Relationship DynamicsPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Effects of adult inpatient group psychotherapy on attachment characteristics: an observational study comparing routine care to an untreated comparison group

Kirchmann, Helmut, Steyer, Rolf, Mayer, Axel, Joraschky, Peter, Schreiber-Willnow, Karin, Strauss, Bernhard·2012·Psychotherapy Research
DOI 10.1080/10503307.2011.626807
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Abstract

This study investigated the changes in attachment characteristics of patients undergoing inpatient group psychotherapy in routine care. We collected data from 265 consecutively recruited patients and 260 non-clinical control persons using self-report measures of attachment, depression, and socio-demographic characteristics. The effects of treatment on patients were analyzed using propensity score techniques (propensity strata and logit-transformed propensity scores) in combination with a generalized analysis of covariance. A moderate increase of attachment security was found which could be attributed to a decrease both in attachment anxiety and avoidance. Pre-post improvements in attachment with regard to romantic partnerships were stable after a 1-year follow-up. Furthermore, we found significant treatment-covariate interactions indicating that subjects with particularly high treatment propensities (propensities were highly correlated with depression and attachment anxiety) improved the most in terms of attachment security. Our results are encouraging for psychotherapeutic practice in that they provide evidence that long-term attachment improvements can be reached via psychotherapy. Our results will also provide a sound basis for future studies in the field of clinical attachment research, e.g., studies examining whether improved attachment security is correlated to symptom improvements in different psychological disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1080/10503307.2011.626807

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  • The findings on attachment anxiety and avoidance are consistent with previous research demonstrating that attachment security is responsive to psychotherapy and with a qualitative study indicating that CALM helped participants resolve relational problems.

    “These findings are consistent with previous research demonstrating that attachment security is responsive to psychotherapy 20 and with a qualitative study indicating that CALM helped participants to resolve relational problems. 24”

    From Managing cancer and living meaningfully (CALM): Randomised feasibility trial in patients with advanced cancer (2019) · cites this paper as [20]

  • Attachment security has been shown to be an important mediator of distress and spiritual wellbeing in patients with advanced cancer and is a potential target of psychotherapeutic interventions.

    “Attachment security, which refers to internalized expectations of emotional support from significant others and the flexible capacity to make use of it, 18 has been shown to be an important mediator of distress 3 and spiritual wellbeing 19 in patients with advanced cancer and is a potential target of psychotherapeutic interventions. 20”

    From Managing cancer and living meaningfully (CALM): Randomised feasibility trial in patients with advanced cancer (2019) · cites this paper as [20]

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Authors
Kirchmann, H., Steyer, R., Mayer, A., Joraschky, P., Schreiber-Willnow, K., & Strauss, B.
Affiliations
  • Jena University Hospital (DE)
  • Friedrich Schiller University Jena (DE)
  • University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus (DE)
Corresponding author
Kirchmann, Helmut
ORCID
Venue
Psychotherapy Research
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2011-11-17
Volume
22
Issue
1
Pages
95-114
ISSN
  • 1050-3307 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-4381
DOI
10.1080/10503307.2011.626807
OpenAlex
W2084059071
Cited by
44
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 1
FWCI
4.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychotherapy Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
  • PUB – Publications at Bielefeld University (Bielefeld University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
attachment security, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, group therapy, inpatient psychotherapy, hospitalized adults, depression, romantic relationships, treatment effects, treatment-covariate interaction, long-term follow-up
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety, Depression, Female, Humans, Inpatients, Male, Object Attachment, Psychiatric Department, Hospital, Psychotherapy, Group, Case-Control Studies

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