Attachment organization in Vietnam combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder |
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| Authors: | Ella C. Nye Jeffrey Katzman Jordan B. Bell Julie Kilpatrick Marythelma Brainard Kathleen Y. Haaland |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Behavioral Health Care Line, New Mexico VA Health Care System , Albuquerque, USA;2. Department of Psychiatry , University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, USA Ella.nye@va.gov;4. Department of Psychiatry , University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, USA;5. Behavioral Health Care Line, New Mexico VA Health Care System , Albuquerque, USA;6. Department of Psychiatry , University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, USA;7. C.J. Jung Institute of Santa Fe , USA;8. New Mexico Association for Infant Mental Health , Albuquerque, USA;9. Department of Psychiatry , University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, USA;10. Department of Neurology , University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, USA;11. Research Service, New Mexico VA Health Care System , Albuquerque, USA |
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| Abstract: | Attachment organization in a combat-related PTSD sample was investigated and compared with previously published clinical and non-clinical samples. The association between insecure attachment and unresolved mourning classification (U-loss) and between U-loss and PTSD symptoms was investigated. Vietnam combat veterans diagnosed with PTSD and in treatment (N = 48) were administered the Adult Attachment Interview, the SCID-IV, and CAPS. The PTSD sample was like non-clinical samples in the incidence of secure attachment (50%), but were more commonly unresolved. Veterans with insecure attachment organizations were more likely than those with secure attachment to be classified U-loss. U-loss classification was associated with greater likelihood of comorbid anxiety disorders and PTSD avoidance/numbing symptoms. The results suggest that while insecure attachment organization is associated with unresolved mourning in response to loss, it is not differentially associated with combat-related PTSD. The relationship between U-loss and PTSD is discussed in light of current literature. |
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| Keywords: | attachment organization posttraumatic stress disorder combat veterans Adult Attachment Interview unresolved loss |
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