Attachment Styles And Representations In Drug Users

• Published in: Adicciones (Palma de Mallorca) 2006, Vol.18 (4)
• Main Authors: de Lucas Taracena, Mª T, Montañes Rada, F
• Format: Review
• Language: eng ; spa
• ISSN: 0214-4840

Insecure attachment has been shown to be a risk factor for a variety of mental health problems. It seems plausible that insecure attachment, usually developing during childhood, is a risk factor for substance use disorders (SUDs), and it could also have an effect on the therapeutic alliance and, accordingly, on the SUD outcome. We have reviewed the literature on this topic, looking for attachment patterns linked to SUDs. Published studies on attachment and SUDs have produced inconsistent results, partly due to the use of different evaluation methods. Studies working with the Hazan and Shaver self-report, showed a link mainly with avoidant attachment style. Studies using the Adult Attachment Interview found dismissing or unresolved attachment patterns. Finally, studies of alcohol and opiate users with the Bartholomew model have found preoccupied or fearful styles. Discussion and conclusions: The reviewed studies are heterogeneous in respect of the sample characteristics that are, at times, not even specified (age, kind of drugs used, severity of the addiction), and the use of instruments that classify the attachment categories in a different way. Nevertheless, secure attachment is similar across all the measures and it does not seem to justify SUDs. In addition, there are few data supporting a relationship between preoccupied or anxious attachment, and SUDs. Although some studies point to the existence of dismissing attachment patterns, the majority of studies have found avoidant or fearful attachments.