Assessing Attachment Cognitions and Their Associations with Depression in Youth with Eating or Drug Misuse Disorders

Abstract

The study investigates associations between attachment cognitions and depression symptoms in 71 15–25-year-olds, 26 of whom have eating disorders, and 20 of whom are drug misusers. Attachment cognitions were measured with the CaMir Q-sort, which provides indexes for secure, avoidant, and preoccupied attachment, as well as scores on 13 dimensions. The BDI-13 was used to measure depressive symptomatology. Consistent with the literature, BDI scores were associated with cognitions of preoccupied attachment. They were also related to cognitions of avoidant attachment, confirming Bowlby's theory on defensive exclusion. For participants with eating disorders, depressive symptomatology was related to preoccupation and parental interference, whereas for drug misusers, it was negatively related to security, preoccupation, parental support, and lack of parental concern. These findings help understand how attachment cognitions may participate in depressive symptomatology, namely in youth whose behavior problems may be associated with specific attachment experiences.

Keywords:

• depression
• attachment
• drug misuse
• eating disorders
• cognitions

Notes

^aAlthough Cole-Detke and Kobak's study (1996) includes measures of both depression and attachment, they investigated the association between attachment and eating disorders (after controlling the effect of depression), rather than focus on the association between attachment and depression. In addition, they assessed attachment states of mind and not cognitions.

^bGerman, Italian, Spanish, Greek, and Japanese versions of the CaMir are also available. Participants' ages ranged between 18 and 65 years (mean age: 34 years, standard deviation: 9.3 years).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

RAPHAËLE MILJKOVITCH

Raphaële Miljkovitch, Ph.D., is professor of social development at University Paris X. She has also been head of research projects at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Lausanne (Switzerland). Her main areas of interest concern attachment, family relationships, and their associations with behavior problems and psychopathology.

BLAISE PIERREHUMBERT

Blaise Pierrehumbert, Ph.D., is head of a research unit at the University of Lausanne Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department. He has training in cognitive developmental psychology. He is teaching attachment theory at the Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne. His main research areas are attachment, developmental psychopathology, perinatality, and stress reactions.

ATHANASSIA KARMANIOLA

Athanassia Karmaniola, Ph.D., specializes in emotional and cognitive development in children and adolescents. Her main areas of interest concern attachment according to an intercultural perspective, its association with addictions, school phobia, migration and school achievement, as well as life trajectories.

MICHEL BADER

Michel Bader, M.D., is a researcher at the research unit of the University of Lausanne Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, as well as a child and adult psychiatrist. He is also trained in child and adult psychoanalysis. His main research interests are focused on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), and transgenerational and attachment representations.

OLIVIER HALFON

Oliver Halfon, M.D., is head of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Lausanne. His main research interests are focused on addictive behavior (bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, drug abuse, and repeated suicidal attempts), primarily from a neurobiological and epidemiological point of view.