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Thesis

French

ID: <

10670/1.fdeayx

>

Where these data come from
Quality of mental attachment and spiritual figures

Abstract

This study had maintained two goals: First of all, adult attachment was investigated in 28 patients with chronic Psychosis and 18 controls, using the Adult Attachment Interiew. This, as no previous research had ever done so with a scientific validated instrument. Diagnosis assessments were performed with the SCID and symptomtic evaluation with the BPRS. Results showed that patients were more likely to have experienced Traumatic experiences with their primary caregivers during their childhood then have controls. We were able to identify as well a high prevalence of insecure loving attachment in patients, who were able to identify the functional dimension of Psychosis in the maintenance of the relationship to primary attachment figures. This study shows that insecure loose attachment is related to an early outset as well as to an unfavourable prognosis. Second, quite a few researches on Spirituality in Psychosis have shown that patients were more likely to have spiritual believes or practices then indiviuals of a non-clinical population. Coping strategies related to Spirituality and religion were identified as efficient for the majority. They can help with all types of pharmaceuticals, specific symptoms and may enhance life quality (Mohr et al., 2006). Looking ahead we have investigated some of the underlying psychological processes in this type of coping strategies, using the conceptual framework of Bowl’s theoretical attachment. For most participants, both patients and controls, spiritual figures are attached figures. Most of them are transposing the internal working model, achieved in relation to their primary caregivers, towards their “spiritual figure” even in case of an insecure attachment. — This research has essentially two objectives. First, it looks at attachment models using Adult Attachment Interview in 28 people with chronic psychosis and 18 people with no psychiatric conditions. Indeed, no pre-study study had investigated attachment in chronic psychotic patients using scientifically validated instruments. Diagnostic assessments were carried out using the SCID and symptomatological assessments using the BPRS. In this context, we were able to show that a majority of patients had experienced traumatic relational experiences in relation to their first attachment figures during childhood. Our results also indicate the high prevalence of an insecure-detached attachment, which reflects the functional dimension of psychotic symptoms aimed at preserving the link to key attachment figures. These also show that insecure-detached attachment is associated with an early onset of the disease and an unfavourable prognosis. Second, many studies have shown that psychotic patients rely more on spiritual/religious beliefs and practices to try to cope with their difficulties than the general population. This appeal has proved to be effective for many of them. It often allows them to better manage difficulties, symptoms and overall improves their quality of life (Mohr et al., 2006). We therefore examined some of the mental dimensions underlying this type of coping strategy using the conceptual background of Bowlby’s attachment theory. We found that a large number of participants, patients and controls, invest spiritual figures on how to attach. Even in the case of an insective attachment, the majority of them transpose their effective internal models, acquired in their relationship with the first attachment figures, to their beliefs in spiritual figures.

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