An exploratory study on how attachment classifications manifest in group psychotherapy

Talia, Alessandro; Georg, Anna; Siepe, Björn; Gullo, Salvatore; Miller-Bottome, Madeleine; Volkert, Jana; Neukel, Corinne; Kaess, Michael; Bempohl, Felix; Herpertz, Sabine C.; Taubner, Svenja (2022). An exploratory study on how attachment classifications manifest in group psychotherapy. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 25(3) PAGEPress 10.4081/ripppo.2022.653

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Recently, attachment-informed researchers and clinicians have begun to show that attachment theory offers a useful framework for exploring group psychotherapy. However, it remains unclear whether patients with differing attachment classifications would behave and speak in distinct ways in group therapy sessions. Aim: In this study, we conducted an exploratory analysis of the discourse of patients in group therapy who had independently received different classifications with gold standard interview measures of attachment in adults. Each patient participant attended one of three mentalization-based parenting groups. Before treatment, the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) or the Parent Development Interview (PDI) were administered to each patient, and interviews were transcribed and coded to obtain the patient's attachment classification. Groups included 2, 5, and 5 patients, respectively, and any session was led by at least two co-therapists. A total of 14 group sessions were transcribed verbatim. Sessions were analysed through a semi-inductive method, in order to identify markers that would typify patients of different attachment classifications in session. Through transcript excerpts and narrative descriptions, we report on the differing ways in which patients of different attachment classifications communicate in group psychotherapy, with the therapist and with each other. Our work provides useful information for group therapists and researchers regarding how differences in attachment status may play out in group sessions.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy > Research Division

UniBE Contributor:

Kaess, Michael

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

2499-7552

Publisher:

PAGEPress

Language:

English

Submitter:

Chantal Michel

Date Deposited:

23 Dec 2022 13:55

Last Modified:

12 Jan 2023 00:16

Publisher DOI:

10.4081/ripppo.2022.653

PubMed ID:

36373392

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/176353

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/176353

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