Attachment in substance misuse, depression and healthy controls. V1.0

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A comparison of attachment styles in people with comorbid substance misuse and depression, depression alone and healthy controls.

• IRAS ID

  320396

• Contact name

  Ruby Ramsden

• Contact email

  ruby.ramsden@stx.ox.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Oxford / Research Governance Ethics and Assurance

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  During infanthood, all people develop an ‘attachment style’ (or type of emotional/relational bond) to their caregivers, based on how their caregivers respond to their needs. This attachment style influences how they develop relationships with others and cope with difficult emotions, throughout childhood and adulthood. This study will investigate whether there are differences in attachment styles of people with substance use difficulties (SUDs) and depression, compared to people with depression alone and healthy controls.

  People with both conditions are vulnerable and tend to have poorer treatment outcomes and increased relapse rates, compared to people with SUDs or depression only. This may be due to them finding it more difficult to engage with/attend services or treatment. Engagement with services/professionals may be impacted by attachment style.
  Understanding the relationship between attachment styles, SUDs and depression will help to understand how services/professionals can better support people with both conditions, in hope of improving outcomes and reducing relapses.

  Participants will be recruited online and through a substance use service. The research will be conducted both online and via paper questionnaires. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires about alcohol use, drug use, depression and attachment style. After completing the questionnaires, participants meeting the inclusion criteria, will be divided into three groups depending on their answers:

  1) SUDs and depression
  2) Depression (only)
  3) Healthy control

  Statistical analysis will be used to compare the attachment styles of each group, as well as to see if attachment traits are related to severity of SUDs and/or depression.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  23/WM/0100

• Date of REC Opinion

  3 Jul 2023

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion