Transcultural adaptation of interpersonal psychotherapy in Asia

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) has been utilized with great efficacy and effectiveness across many cultural settings. The attachment theory upon which IPT rests provides a strong foundation for IPT cross‐culturally: regardless of their geographic location, people are people and their relationships are important. Though the structure of families and individual social roles varies greatly across cultures, people relate to one another. They become distressed when they have problems with interpersonal conflict, change, and loss of relationships. In this article, we review the basics of IPT and then describe the ways in which cultural adaptations can be made for people in Asia. Both are large tasks—to summarize IPT concisely while providing sufficient information is difficult; describing cultural adaptions for people in geographical areas from Russia to China to India to Southeast and Central Asia and all of the ethnic and language groups that area includes is nigh well impossible within a review article. Thus we have restricted our cultural overview to areas in which we have experience clinically and in which we have been active with IPT training, supervision, and implementation. All of the work we describe, however, elaborate on the principles of cultural adaptations which can be used to implement IPT in other local contexts.     

Frontal EEG asymmetry in infants observing separation and comforting events: The role of infants’ attachment relationship

The development of social-cognitive abilities in infancy is subject to an intricate interaction between maturation of neural systems and environmental input. We investigated the role of infants’ attachment relationship quality in shaping infants’ neural responses to observed social interactions. One-hundred thirty 10-month-old infants participated in an EEG session while they watched animations involving a distressing separation event that ended with either comforting or ignoring behavior. Frontal asymmetry (FA) in the alpha range - which is indicative of approach-withdrawal tendencies - was measured with EEG. Attachment quality was assessed using the Strange Situation procedure at 12 months. Overall, infants with disorganized attachment showed a lack of right-sided – withdrawal related – FA compared to secure and insecure infants. Furthermore, only avoidant infants exhibited reduced right-sided FA responses following the separation. Contrary to our expectations, the type of response (comforting vs. ignoring) did not elicit differences in FA patterns, and attachment quality did not moderate the effects of the type of response on frontal asymmetry. Implications for research on attachment-related biases in social information processing and on the neural underpinnings of prosocial behaviors are discussed.     

青少年依恋对家庭动力与心理健康状况的中介效应

目的探讨青少年依恋对家庭动力与心理健康状况之间的中介效应。方法使用系统家庭动力学自评量表（SSFD）、青少年父母同伴依恋量表（IIPA）和症状自评量表（SCL一90）对393名中学生被试进行评估,并进行统计分析。结果回归分析显示,SSFD中家庭气氛和个性化维度对青少年的心理健康状况有显著的主效应（R。=0．063,P=0．000;R。=0．016,P=0．012）,青少年的父母同伴依恋在家庭气氛和心理健康状况之间起部分中介的作用（P〈0．05,母亲、父亲及同伴依恋依次为P=0．056;P=0．040;P=0．001）,青少年的父母同伴依恋在个性化与心理健康状况之间起完全中介的作用（P〉0．05,母亲、父亲及同伴依恋依次为P=0．746;p=0．317;P=0．125）。结论青少年家庭动力中的家庭气氛和个性化是其心理健康状况的重要影响因素。     

Persistent inhibition of Candida albicans biofilm and hyphae growth on titanium by graphene nanocoating

ObjectivesCandida albicanscolonizes biomaterial surfaces and are highly resistant to therapeutics. Graphene nanocoating on titanium compromises initial biofilm formation. However, its sustained antibiofilm potential is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of graphene nanocoating to decrease long-term fungal biofilm development and hyphae growth on titanium.MethodsGraphene nanocoating was deposited twice (TiGD) or five times (TiGV) on grade 4 titanium with vacuum assisted technique and characterized with Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscope. The biofilm formation and hyphae growth of C. albicans was monitored for seven days by CFU, XTT, confocal, mean cell density and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Uncoated titanium was the Control. All tests had three independent biological samples and were performed in independent triplicates. Data was analyzed with one- or two-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD (α = 0.05).ResultsBoth TiGD and TiGV presented less biofilms at all times points compared with Control. The confocal and SEM images revealed few adhered cells on graphene coated samples, absence of hyphae and no features of a mature biofilm architecture. The increase in number of layers of graphene nanocoating did not improve its antibiofilm potential.SignificanceThe graphene nanocoating exerted a long-term persistent inhibitory effect on the biofilm formation on titanium. The fewer cells that were able to attach on graphene coated titanium were scattered and unable to form a mature biofilm with hyphae elements. The findings open opportunities to prevent microbial attachment and proliferation on implantable materials without the use of antibiotics.     

Parental reflective functioning: An introduction

Abstract

Reflective functioning refers to the essential human capacity to understand behavior in light of underlying mental states and intentions. The construct, introduced by Fonagy, Steele, Steele, Moran, and Higgitt in 1991 Fonagy, P., Steele, M., Moran, G., Steele, H. and Higgitt, A. 1991. The capacity for understanding mental states: The reflective self in parent and child and its significance for security of attachment. Infant Mental Health Journal, 13: 200–216. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar], and elaborated by Fonagy and his colleagues over the course of the next decade, has had an enormous impact on developmental theory and clinical practice. This paper introduces the construct of parental reflective functioning, which refers to the parent's capacity to hold the child's mental states in mind, and begins with a review of Fonagy and his colleagues' essential ideas regarding the reflective function. Next, the applicability of this construct to parental representations of the child and the parent – child relationship is considered. A system for coding parental reflective functioning, which will serve as the organizing framework for this special issue, is described. Finally, the three papers that make up this special section are introduced.     

Predicting children's separation anxiety at age 6: The contributions of infant–mother attachment security,maternal sensitivity,and maternal separation anxiety

Abstract

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the precursors and familial conditions which sustain school-aged children's separation anxiety. In a prospective, longitudinal study of 99 mother–child dyads, infancy measures of infant–mother attachment security, maternal separation anxiety, and maternal sensitivity were used to predict children's self-reported symptoms of separation anxiety at age 6. Insecurely attached children reported more separation anxiety than securely attached children. Insecure-ambivalent children reported marginally more separation anxiety than securely attached children, but not more than insecure-avoidant attached children. Regression analysis showed infant–mother attachment security and mother's sensitivity added uniquely to the prediction of children's separation anxiety, but mother's separation anxiety did not. Mediation tests show that the effect of mother's separation anxiety on children's separation anxiety may be mediated by maternal sensitivity. Research and clinical implications are discussed.     

Stalking as paranoid attachment: A typological and dynamic model

Abstract

Stalking encompasses a wide range of behavioral patterns, risk factors, interpersonal dynamics, and dangerousness. To account for these diverse phenomena, we propose that stalking behavior is best conceptualized by a dynamic interaction of attachment styles and psychodynamic phenomena. This paper articulates a model that explains stalking behavior within the framework of attachment theory. Four prototypical configurations of stalkers and their victims are developed. Each configuration is discussed in terms of a pattern of internal representations, affective constellations, combinations of aggression and narcissism, and potential for future violence. The four configurations proposed here are maintained through stalkers' over ideational linkage fantasies and projective identifications, which range from shame-prone and needy idealization to malevolent torment of the victim. Our model arrays erotomanic, jealous, and persecutory attachments along a continuum of increasingly paranoid and pathological identifications. We argue that these prototypical attachment configurations provide a theoretically driven means of differentiating phases of stalking, and as such provide useful leads in the empirical study and clinical assessment, treatment, and management of stalkers.     

Separation and loss through immigration of African Caribbean women to the UK

Abstract

This paper reports on 20 women born in the Caribbean whose birth mothers left them there as young children in the care of grandmothers or other members of their extended family. This was in order to migrate to Great Britain during the late 1950s through the 1970s in search of economic prosperity, and reunification with the father/husband already working in the UK. The reunions occurred typically more than a decade later, in the child's adolescence, when mother and child were meeting as if for the first time. The sample of women was divided into two groups, one who was receiving or had received counselling or psychotherapy, and those who had no experience of therapy. Using a semi-structured Interview Schedule (the Separation Reunion Interview Schedule developed for this study), the narratives obtained suggested coherence and reflection. There was little difference in the reactions to the separation – reunion experience of the women in both groups. They all expressed difficulties in trusting others. They also expressed longing to be loved by their own mothers and they felt less wanted than any children (siblings) born in Britain to their mothers. They attributed their resilient stance and survival to their ability to recall the memories of care received during their early years. The study raises many questions and highlights the need for further research on broken attachments, separation, and loss among entire Caribbean families.     

DRD4 7-repeat polymorphism moderates the association between maternal unresolved loss or trauma and infant disorganization

Abstract

Previous studies have related attachment disorganization in children to either dopamine D4 receptor polymorphisms or maternal unresolved loss or trauma and frightening or anomalous parenting. In this study it was examined whether the interaction between genetic (DRD4 7-repeat and -521 C/T) and environmental risk factors (maternal unresolved loss/trauma and maternal frightening behavior) was associated with infant disorganization. A moderating role of the DRD4 gene was found. Maternal unresolved loss or trauma was associated with infant disorganization, but only in the presence of the DRD4 7-repeat polymorphism. The increase in risk for disorganization in children with the 7-repeat allele exposed to maternal unresolved loss/trauma compared to children without these combined risks was 18.8 fold. Similar moderating effects were not found for maternal frightening behavior. Our findings indicate that children are differentially susceptible to unresolved loss or trauma dependent on the presence of the 7-repeat DRD4 allele.     

Pathways to earned-security: The role of alternative support figures

This study explored the kinds of relationship experiences associated with earned-security, i.e., the extent to which mothers who report early negative relationship histories with their parents are later able to form a secure working model of attachment (indicated by the ability to speak clearly and coherently about these histories). Mothers from a low-risk sample (N = 121) expecting their first child completed the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), which was used to assess earned-security retrospectively using the stringent definition recommended by Main and Hesse (Hesse, 2008 Hesse, E. 2008. “The Adult Attachment Interview: Protocol, method of analysis, and empirical studies”. In The handbook of attachment: Theory, research and clinical applications, Edited by: Cassidy, J. and Shaver, P. R. 552–598. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.  [Google Scholar]; Main, Goldwyn, & Hesse, 2002 Main, M., Goldwyn, R. and Hesse, E. 2002/2008. Adult attachment scoring and classification system, Unpublished scoring manual, University of California at Berkeley.  [Google Scholar]), as well as to identify alternative support figures. Participants also completed self-report measures of depressive symptomatology, questionnaires concerning their experiences in therapy, and later, when their babies were 12 to 15 months old, the Strange Situation procedure. Sixteen mothers were classified as earned-secure (25% of those classified as secure-autonomous and 13% of the whole sample). Women who were earned-secure (vs. insecure and continuous-secure) reported significantly higher levels of emotional support, but not instrumental support, from alternative support figures. They also spent more time in therapy than did insecure and continuous-secure women and were more likely to form secure attachments with their infants than insecure women. These findings were obtained even after controlling for depressive symptoms.