Attachment and Emotion Regulation in Psychosis - Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of attachment and emotion regulation in first episode psychosis: Relationships to emotional distress and symptomatology.
IRAS ID
149806
Contact name
Julia E Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Research summary
This study aims to explore the role of attachment style (based on Bartholomew & Horowitz’ 1991 four category model of attachment) and an individual’s ability to regulate their emotions at times of distress, and the consequential level of emotional distress (depression and anxiety) and symptom severity of psychosis experienced. Fifty participants, aged 16-35, with a diagnosis of psychosis will be recruited from the Early Intervention Service, a specialist metal health service for young people who have experienced their first episode of psychosis. Participants will be asked to complete a small battery of self-report psychological assessments and a semi-structured clinical interview. The study hypothesises:
1) Secure attachment will be positively related to adaptive emotion regulation strategies whereas insecure attachments will be positively related to maladaptive emotion regulation strategies.
2) Secure attachment will be associated with lower levels of emotional distress and low severity of psychotic symptoms compared to the insecure attachments.
3) Adaptive emotion regulation strategies will be negatively related to emotional distress and symptom severity of psychosis whilst maladaptive emotion regulation strategies will be positively related to emotional distress and symptom severity of psychosis.
4) Should significant relationships exist between attachment style, emotion regulation strategies and distress/symptoms, it is hypothesised that emotion regulation will mediate the effect of attachment style on emotional distress and symptoms of psychosis.
5) On an exploratory basis, it is hypothesised that emotion distress will mediate the relationship between emotional regulation and psychosis symptom severity.
From the results, we hope to contribute to the growing literature investigating the role early attachments can make to the understanding and treatment of psychosis. Emotion regulation is developing as a field of psychological theory and research and it is anticipated that the proposed study may provide further insight into its role in the development and maintenance of symptoms of psychosis.REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1260
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion