Traumatic events and attachment in Bipolar Disorder

Journal title MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA
Author/s Mitia Rendiniello, Elena Ierardi, Maria Giulia Olivari, Gloriana Rangone
Publishing Year 2017 Issue 2016/3
Language Italian Pages 13 P. 143-155 File size 184 KB
DOI 10.3280/MAL2016-003007
DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation click here

Below, you can see the article first page

If you want to buy this article in PDF format, you can do it, following the instructions to buy download credits

Article preview

FrancoAngeli is member of Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), a not-for-profit association which run the CrossRef service enabling links to and from online scholarly content.

Traumatic experiences in childhood and adolescence may affect, in the later stages of life, the individual adaptation, generating psychological distress situations. This study aims to investigate, in an exploratory way, the relationship between traumatic experiences, lived in childhood and adolescence, and attachment bond in a group of 19 patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Through the administration of the Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1985) traumatic events were detected and attachment style was investigated. The results indicate that a high percentage of bipolar patients experienced traumatic events during childhood and adolescence. In almost all cases, these patients have an insecure attachment and attachment insecurity appear to be related to having experienced traumatic events

Keywords: Bipolar disorder, traumatic experiences, attachment, maltreatment

  1. Fonagy, P., & Target, M. (2002). Early intervention and the development of self-regulation. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 22, 307-335.
  2. Morriss, R. K., Gucht, E., Lancaster, G., & Bentall, R. P. (2009). Adult attachment in bipolar 1 disorder. Psychology and Psychotherapy, 82, 267-277, DOI: 10.1348/147608309X415309
  3. Aas, M., Henry, C., Andreassen, O. A., Bellivier, F., Melle, I., & Etain, B. (2016). The role of childhood trauma in bipolar disorders. International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, 4, 1-10,
  4. Bentall, R. P, Kinderman, P., & Manson, K. (2006). Self-discrepancies in bipolar disorder: A comparison of manic, depressed, remitted and normal participants. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44, 457-473, DOI: 10.1348/014466505X29189
  5. Bifulco, A., Moran, P. M., Ball, C., & Bernazzani, O. (2002). Adult attachment style. I: Its relationship to clinical depression. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 37, 50-59,
  6. Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and loss: vol.3. Loss. New York: Basic Books.
  7. Bradley, B., DeFife, J. A., Guarnaccia, C., Phifer, J., Fani, N., Ressler, K. J., & Westen, D. (2011). Emotion dysregulation and negative affect: Association with psychiatric symptoms. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 72, 685-691,
  8. Brown, G., & Anderson, B. (1991). Psychiatric morbidity in adult inpatients with childhood histories of sexual and physical abuse. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 55-61.
  9. Brown, G., McBride, L., Bauer, M. S., & Williford, W. O. (2005). Impact of childhood abuse on the course of bipolar disorder: A replication study in U.S. veterans. Journal of Affective Disorders, 89, 57-67,
  10. Cassidy, J., & Shaver, P. R. (2008). Handbook of attachment: Theory, research and clinical applications. New York: The Guilford Press.
  11. Camisasca, E., Miragoli, S., & Di Blasio, P. (2013). L’attaccamento modera le reazioni dei bambini esposti al conflitto genitoriale? Verifica di un modello integrato. Psicologia Clinica dello Sviluppo, XVII, 3, 479-500, DOI: 10.1449/76229
  12. Camisasca, E., Miragoli, S., & Di Blasio, P. (2014). La disorganizzazione dell’attaccamento spiega i sintomi post-traumatici nei bambini vittime di violenza intrafamiliare? Maltrattamento e abuso all’infanzia, 16, 35-55, DOI: 10.3280/MAL2014-002003
  13. Cancrini, L. (2012). La cura delle infanzie infelici: viaggio nell'origine dell'oceano borderline. Milano: Cortina.
  14. Craddock, N., & Jones, I. (2001). Molecular genetics of bipolar disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 178, s128-s133,
  15. Crisafi, C., Ragonese, N., & Caretti, V. (2015). Il ruolo del trauma infantile nell’insorgenza del Binge Eating Disorder. Maltrattamento e abuso all’infanzia, 17, 13-30, DOI: 10.3280/MAL2015-001002
  16. Dube, S. R., Anda, R. F., Felitti, V. J., Chapman, D. P., Williamson, D. F., & Giles, W. H. (2001). Childhood abuse, household dysfunction, and the risk of attempted suicide throughout the life span: Findings from the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. Jama, 286, 3089-3096,
  17. Etain, B., Aas, M., Andreassen, O. A., Lorentzen, S., Dieset, I., Gard, S., & Melle, I. (2013). Childhood trauma is associated with severe clinical characteristics of bipolar disorders. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 74, 991-998,
  18. Felitti, V. J., & Anda, R. F. (2010). The relationship of adverse childhood experiences to adult medical disease, psychiatric disorders and sexual behavior: Implications for healthcare. In R. A. Lanius, E. Vermetten & C. Pain (Eds.), The impact of early life trauma on health and disease (pp. 77-87). West Nyack: Cambridge University Press.
  19. Fonagy, P., Target, M., Steele, M., Steele, H., Leigh, T., Levinson, A. (1997). Morality, disruptive behaviour, borderline personality disorder, crime, and their relationship to security of attachment. In L. Atkinson & J. Zucker (Eds.), Attachment and psychopathology (pp. 233-274). New York: Guilford Press.
  20. Fowke, A., Ross, S., & Ashcroft, K. (2012). Childhood maltreatment and internalized shame in adults with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 19, 450-457,
  21. Garno, J. L., Goldberg, J. F., Ramirez, P. M., & Ritzler, B. A. (2005). Impact of childhood abuse on the clinical course of bipolar disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 186, 121-125,
  22. George, C., Kaplan, N., & Main, M. (1984). Attachment interview for adults. Unpublished manuscript, University of California at Berkeley.
  23. Glassman, L. H., Weierich, M. R., Hooley, J. M., Deliberto, T. L., & Nock, M. K. (2007). Child maltreatment, non-suicidal self-injury, and the mediating role of self-criticism. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45, 2483-2490,
  24. Greenberg, S., Rosenblum, K. L., McInnis, M. G., & Muzik, M. (2014). The role of social relationships in bipolar disorder: A review. Psychiatry Research, 219, 248-254.
  25. Hammersley, P., Dias, A., Todd, G., Bowen-Jones, K. I. M., Reilly, B., & Bentall, R. P. (2003). Childhood trauma and hallucinations in bipolar affective disorder: Preliminary investigation. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 182, 543-547,
  26. Hyun, M., Friedman, S. D., & Dunner, D. L. (2000). Relationship of childhood physical and sexual abuse to adult bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorders, 2, 131-135,
  27. Ionio, C., Olivari, M. G., & Confalonieri, E. (2013). Eventi traumatici in adolescenza: risposte psicologiche e comportamentali. Maltrattamento e abuso all’infanzia, 15, 87-99, DOI: 10.3280/MAL2013-002005
  28. Janiri, D., Sani, G., Danese, E., Simonetti, A., Ambrosi, E., Angeletti, G., & Spalletta, G. (2015). Childhood traumatic experiences of patients with bipolar disorder type I and type II. Journal of Affective Disorders, 175, 92-97,
  29. Joyce, P. R. (1984). Parental bonding in bipolar affective disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 7, 319-324.
  30. Juffer, F., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., & Van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2008). Supporting adoptive families with video-feedback intervention. In F. Juffer, M. J. Bakermans-Kranenburg & M. H. van IJzendoorn (Eds.). Promoting positive parenting: An attachment-based intervention (pp. 139-153). New York: Erlbaum/Taylor & Francis.
  31. Kennedy, H., Landor, M., & Todd, L. ( 2011). Video interaction guidance: A relationship-based intervention to promote attunement, empathy and wellbeing. London: Kingsley.
  32. Kökçü, F., & Kesebir, S. (2010). The relationship between attachment style, and temperament, personality and bipolar symptoms: A controlled study on bipolar patients and their children. Turk Psikiyatri Dergisi, 21, 1-9.
  33. Main, M., Goldwyn, R., & Hesse, E. (2002). Classification and scoring systems for the Adult Attachment Interview. Unpublished manuscript, University of California at Berkeley.
  34. Maniglio, R. (2013). The impact of child sexual abuse on the course of bipolar disorder: A systematic review. Bipolar Disorders, 15, 341-358.
  35. Marazziti, D., Dell’Osso, B., Dell’Osso, M. C., Consoli, G., Del Debbio, A., Mungai, F., & Dell’Osso, L. (2007). Romantic attachment in patients with mood and anxiety disorders. CNS Spectrums, 12, 751-756.
  36. Miklowitz, D. J. (2007). The role of the family in the course and treatment of bipolar disorder. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 16, 192-196,
  37. Miragoli, S., Camisasca, E., & Di Blasio, P. (2015). Validation of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory in Italy: A preliminary study. SAGE Open, 5, 1-11, DOI: 10.1177/2158244015597044
  38. Murphy, A., Steele, M., Dube, S. R., Bate, J., Bonuck, K., Meissner, P., Goldman, H., & Steele, H. (2014). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) questionnaire and Adult Attachment Interview (AAI): Implications for parent child relationships. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38, 224-233,
  39. Olivari, M. G., Tagliabue, S., & Confalonieri, E. (2013). Parenting Style and Dimensions Questionnaire: A review of reliability and validity. Marriage & Family Review, 49, 465-490, DOI: 10.1080/01494929.2013.770812
  40. Olivari, M. G., Wahn, E. H., Maridaki-Kassotaki, K., Antonopoulou, K., & Confalonieri, E. (2015). Adolescent perceptions of parenting styles in Sweden, Italy and Greece: An exploratory study. Europe’s Journal of Psychology, 11, 244-258,
  41. Parker, G. (1979). Reported parental characteristics in relation to trait depression and anxiety levels in a non-clinical group. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 13, 260-264.
  42. Procaccia, R., Miragoli, S., & Di Blasio, P. (2013). L’utilizzo del Blacky Pictures’ Test nella valutazione dei minori vittime di abuso sessuale. Maltrattamento e abuso all’infanzia, 15, 109-130, DOI: 10.3280/MAL2013-003006
  43. Rangone, G. (2012). Curare le famiglie che curano. Minori Giustizia, 1, 278-286, DOI: 10.3280/MG2012-001026
  44. Rosenfarb, I. S., Becker, J., & Khan, A. (1994). Perceptions of parental and peer attachments by women with mood disorders. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103, 637-644.
  45. Sarkar, J., & Adshead, G. (2006). Personality disorders as disorganisation of attachment and affect regulation. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 12, 297-305.
  46. Schimmenti, A., & Bifulco, A. (2015). Linking lack of care in childhood to anxiety disorders in emerging adulthood: The role of attachment styles. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 20, 41-48,
  47. Schwannauer, M., Noble, A., & Fraser, G. (2011). Behavioural risk of bipolar disorder in an analogue population: The role of cognitive, developmental and interpersonal factors. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 18, 411-417,
  48. Spinhoven, P., Elzinga, B. M., Hovens, J. G., Roelofs, K., Zitman, F. G., van Oppen, P., & Penninx, B. W. (2010). The specificity of childhood adversities and negative life events across the life span to anxiety and depressive disorders. Journal of Affective Disorders, 126, 103-112,
  49. Sroufe, L. A., Egeland, B., Carlson, E. A., & Collins, W. A. (2005). The development of the person: The Minnesota Study of risk and adaptation from birth to adulthood. New York: Guilford Press.
  50. Torpy, J., Lynm, C. & Glass, R. (2009). Bipolar Disorder. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 301: 564.
  51. Trull, T. J. (2001). Structural relations between borderline personality disorder features and putative etiological correlates. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 110, 471.
  52. Vieta, E. (2005). Mood stabilization in the treatment of bipolar disorder: focus on quetiapine. Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental, 20, 225-236,
  53. Watson, S., Gallagher, P., Dougall, D., Porter, R., Moncrieff, J., Ferrier, I. N., & Young, A. H. (2014). Childhood trauma in bipolar disorder. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 48, 564-570, DOI: 10.1177/0004867413516681
  54. Winters, K. C, & Neale, J. M. (1985). Mania and low self-esteem. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94, 282-290.

  • Childhood trauma and social cognition in participants with bipolar disorder: The moderating role of attachment Javier Morán-Kneer, Ulises Ríos, Stefanella Costa-Cordella, Catalina Barría, Valeria Carvajal, Karyn Valenzuela, Dalia Wasserman, in Journal of Affective Disorders Reports 100359/2022 pp.100359
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2022.100359

Mitia Rendiniello, Elena Ierardi, Maria Giulia Olivari, Gloriana Rangone, Eventi traumatici e attaccamento nel Disturbo Bipolare in "MALTRATTAMENTO E ABUSO ALL’INFANZIA" 3/2016, pp 143-155, DOI: 10.3280/MAL2016-003007