The neural correlates of attachment style during emotional processing: an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis

Attachment style is a relatively stable trait linked to emotion regulation and coping as measured by questionnaire responses. An increasing number of functional brain imaging studies have explored the neural underpinnings of attachment style during emotional processing. However, until now, an overall picture of brain regions involved in this trait remained unexplored. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of 12 peer-reviewed studies on attachment style using activation likelihood estimation (ALE) in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We observed a significant negative correlation between avoidance attachment scores and activation of left inferior frontal gyrus to emotional stimuli, implying an inhibition processing for emotional stimuli in people with high avoidance attachment. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between anxiety attachment scores and activation of left amygdala during emotional processing, which suggested an increased vigilance to emotional stimuli.     

Dimensions de personnalité, style d’attachement et schémas précoces d’inadaptation chez des patients alcoolo-dépendants : quelles sont les spécificités liées au sexe ?

AimLiterature reports particularities in certain psychological dimensions, such as personality traits, early maladaptive schemas and attachment styles among patients dependent on alcohol. Several international studies have also emphasized significant gender differences in psychological profiles. However, in France, only a few studies have dealt with this subject. Our aim was on the one hand to study the characteristics of alcohol-dependent patients in these variables, and on the other hand to search for gender differences.MethodThe personality dimensions were assessed with the French Big Five Inventory (Fr-BFI), the attachment style with Bartholomew's Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ), and early maladaptive schemas with the short version of Young's questionnaire (YSQ-S1). Seventy-three subjects were included: 39 alcohol-dependent patients (19 men and 20 women) and 34 healthy control subjects (17 men and 17 women). The scores of alcohol-dependent patients were compared with those of a healthy control group (n = 34, 17 men, 17 women) and available standards. We also compared the scores of men and women with alcohol dependence between them, and we compared the scores of men and women to those of the control group and those of the reference sample of the same sex.ResultsThis is an ongoing study and we publish here the first results. Compared with control subjects, and the reference sample, alcohol-dependent patients showed significantly higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of extraversion. Furthermore, differences in attachment styles were observed compared to the control group: alcohol-dependent patients presented a less secure attachment, seemed more fearful and detached, but the results remained within the normal standards. Compared to the control subjects, alcohol-dependent patients showed a significant increase in scores regarding many schemas: emotional deprivation, abandonment, abuse/mistrust, isolation, imperfection, dependence, symbiotic relationship, subjugation, and emotional inhibition. Men and women with alcohol dependence did not show a significant difference between them concerning the dimensions of personality, the schemas, and attachment styles. In addition, the comparison of each sub-group (male/female) with the control group of the same sex and standards available showed specific features: for dimensions of personality, alcohol-dependent men presented a high level of neuroticism and a low level of extraversion, while the women showed no specific features. Concerning attachment, both men and women differed from the control group. Their attachment was more fearful and men showed a less secure and more detached attachment. As for patterns, three are higher among men and women with alcohol dependence compared to controls of the same sex: emotional deprivation, abuse/mistrust, and imperfection. In addition, these schemas seem to be more specific according to gender: alcoholic women differed from controls of the same sex at the subjugation schema, which was not the case for men, while only men differed from men of the control group by higher scores in insufficient self-control, dependency and symbiotic relationship.DiscussionThis study shows not only particularities in patients with alcohol dependence concerning personality dimensions, styles of attachment and early maladaptive schemas, but also gender differences when comparing each subgroup (men and women) with controls of the same sex. Even if these results need to be confirmed by using a larger sample, the particularities deserve consideration, especially gender differences in view of appropriate psychotherapeutic strategies.     

Emotional intelligence as a mediator between attachment security and empathy in pre-clinical medical students: A multi-center cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo explore the association of emotional intelligence (EI) and attachment security (AS) with empathy dimensions in medical students by examining the mediating role of EI.MethodsIn a cross-sectional design, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), and demographic questions were administrated to second-year medical students of two medical schools in Northern Italy.Results253 medical students (56.13% female), aged 19–29, participated in this study. AS positively correlated to Empathic Concern (r = 0.17, p = 0.008) and Perspective Taking (r = 0.24, p < 0.001), and negatively to Personal Distress (r = ?0.33, p < 0.001). Individuals with the same level of AS and a higher score on EQ-i had a higher score (β = 0.072, p = 0.033) on empathy latent factor (at the basis of Empathic Concern and Perspective Taking) and a lower score (β = ?0.290, p < 0.001) on Personal Distress than those with a lower EQ-i score.ConclusionThis study shows that EI completely mediated the relationship between AS and empathy dimensions among medical students.Practice implicationsEI training and workshop should be considered when designing educational interventions and programs to enhance empathy and decrease interpersonal distress in medical students.     

附着体义齿在牙列缺损修复中的临床应用

目的评价牙列缺损患者进行附着体义齿修复的临床效果。方法对30例不同类型的牙列缺损患者分别采用球帽式附着体,磁性附着体,栓体栓道式附着体以及套筒冠义齿修复,对义齿的固位、稳定、美观性及患者使用满意度进行临床定期随访。结果 30例病例经过1～3年的临床观察:1例基牙出现继发龋,给予对症治疗重新粘固内冠后,义齿行使功能良好。3例15个月后基托与黏膜间不密合,给予重衬处理后义齿使用良好。1例磁性附着体使用2年活动义齿支架处断裂,其余附着体义齿均获得良好的支持稳定效果,患者的咀嚼效率明显提高,美观要求达到满意。结论附着体义齿对于牙列缺损患者的修复具有良好的临床效果。     

Patients’ sense of relationship with breast cancer surgeons: The relative importance of surgeon and patient variability and the influence of patients’ attachment style

Objective

We examined to what extent variability in breast cancer patients’ sense of relationship with their surgeons was attributable to patient vs surgeon variation and we examined the role of one patient characteristic: attachment style.

Methods

Women (N = 133) due to undergo surgery for breast cancer with one of six surgeons self-rated their relationship with the surgeon, using the Working Alliance Inventory, and indicated their adult attachment style (secure vs insecure). Multilevel analysis of alliance scores quantified variance components at patient and surgeon levels and tested the relationship with attachment.

Results

Variability in alliance was overwhelmingly at the patient level. Alliance was greater in securely than non-securely attached patients, although this influence was small.

Conclusion

Variability in quality of clinical relationships after breast cancer diagnosis largely reflects variation between individual patients, not surgeons. Although patients’ attachment style is significant, its role is modest. More influential patient characteristics need to be identified.

Practice implications

Breast cancer patients report a strong relationship with their surgeons. Because differences between surgeons make only a small contribution to variability in relationship, it should be a priority to identify and address the characteristics or behaviours at the level of individual patients that are associated with poorer relationships.     

Visualization of bacteriophage P1 infection by cryo-electron tomography of tiny Escherichia coli

Bacteriophage P1 has a contractile tail that targets the conserved lipopolysaccharide on the outer membrane surface of the host for initial adsorption. The mechanism by which P1 DNA enters the host cell is not well understood, mainly because the transient molecular interactions between bacteriophage and bacteria have been difficult to study by conventional approaches. Here, we engineered tiny E. coli host cells so that the initial stages of P1-host interactions could be captured in unprecedented detail by cryo-electron tomography. Analysis of three-dimensional reconstructions of frozen-hydrated specimens revealed three predominant configurations: an extended tail stage with DNA present in the phage head, a contracted tail stage with DNA, and a contracted tail stage without DNA. Comparative analysis of various conformations indicated that there is uniform penetration of the inner tail tube into the E. coli periplasm and a significant movement of the baseplate away from the outer membrane during tail contraction.     

Oxytocin, vasopressin, and human social behavior

There is substantial evidence from animal research indicating a key role of the neuropeptides oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the regulation of complex social cognition and behavior. As social interaction permeates the whole of human society, and the fundamental ability to form attachment is indispensable for social relationships, studies are beginning to dissect the roles of OT and AVP in human social behavior. New experimental paradigms and technologies in human research allow a more nuanced investigation of the molecular basis of social behavior. In addition, a better understanding of the neurobiology and neurogenetics of human social cognition and behavior has important implications for the current development of novel clinical approaches for mental disorders that are associated with social deficits (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder). This review focuses on our recent knowledge of the behavioral, endocrine, genetic, and neural effects of OT and AVP in humans and provides a synthesis of recent advances made in the effort to implicate the oxytocinergic system in the treatment of psychopathological states.     

Hurricane Katrina and youth anxiety: The role of perceived attachment beliefs and parenting behaviors

This study sought to examine the role of attachment beliefs and parenting behaviors on youth's anxious response to disaster by testing a theoretical model which posits youths’ perceptions of attachment beliefs and parenting behaviors as moderators of the relation between pre and post disaster anxiety symptoms. Seventy-four youth (ages 6–17 years) and their parents exposed to Hurricane Katrina participated in pre and post disaster assessments. Results indicated that both youths’ pre disaster perceived attachment beliefs (i.e., trust and communication) and perceptions of parenting behaviors (i.e., acceptance and firm control) moderated the relation between pre and post Katrina anxiety symptoms. Exploratory analyses demonstrated no age, gender, or ethnicity differences in post Katrina anxiety symptoms. Findings are discussed in terms of how parents may influence youths’ pre and post disaster anxiety symptoms in the face of natural disasters and the implications for intervention.     

Avoidance,Anxiety, and Sex: The Influence of Romantic Attachment on HIV-Risk among Pregnant Women

Most unprotected sex occurs in close relationships. However, few studies examine relational factors and sexual risk among high-risk populations. Romantic Attachment Theory states that individuals have cognitive working models for relationships that influence expectations, affect, and behavior. We investigated the influence of attachment avoidance and anxiety on sexual beliefs (e.g., condom use beliefs, self-efficacy), behavior (e.g., condom use, multiple partners, unprotected sex with risky partners), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 755 high-risk, young pregnant women (ages 14a€“25) recruited from urban prenatal clinics. Attachment anxiety predicted sexual beliefs, condom use, and unprotected sex with risky partners controlling for demographic variables. Sexual beliefs did not mediate the relationship between attachment orientation and sexual behavior. Current relationship with the father of the baby did mediate the effect of attachment anxiety on multiple partners and STIs. Results indicate the importance of including general relational factors, such as attachment, in HIV prevention.