Évolution des styles d’attachement romantique et interpersonnel au cours de l’hospitalisation chez des femmes adultes déprimées

Psychoemotional States of Men and Women in Separation from Their Families

Due to the fighting, forced separation from family has become an urgent problem for many Ukrainians. The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the impact of separation from family members on the psychoemotional state of men and women in war conditions. 332 respondents were interviewed using the following methods: the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the positive and negative affect questionnaire by A. Klimanska, I. Haletska, the “List of traumatic events” questionnaire. Statistical analysis included a comparison of groups identified by the criterion of separation from relatives: 1) separated from a spouse or romantic partner, 2) separated from children, 3) separated from parents, 4) separated from many family members at once; 5) members of the control group had no changes in family composition. The results showed that the effects of family separation depend on gender. The absence of a male partner did not substantially affect the indicators of the psychoemotional state of Ukrainian women in the first weeks of the war. During the separation from blood relatives, negative changes were expressed in the actualisation of fears and vulnerability to possible dangers, and in the loss of a sense of joy (during separation from children); inattention, and confusion (during separation from parents). Compensatory mobilisation processes, increased vigilance, and concentration were identified in women who are globally separated from their families. Men were substantially less affected by separation from their relatives and showed an increase in the reaction of indignation. Therewith, the male and female subsamples did not substantially differ in the level of stress tolerance, resiliency, manifestations of depression and anxiety; but they differed in the perception of stress, the severity of positive and negative emotions. Women were more acutely aware of the uncertainty and tension of the life situation, their emotional reactions were dominated by depression, frustration, and anxiety. In turn, men in a war situation expressed more active reactions (concentration, determination, etc.), which prevailed over passivenegative ones. It is concluded that separation from the family threatens the psychological well-being and social adaptation of people who were forced to leave their homes due to the war. The obtained data help to better understand both the sources of psychotrauma and the resources for overcoming negative psychoemotional states in a situation of separation and suggest appropriate ways of psychological and social assistance

Discussion of "Eating disorders and attachment: a contemporary psychodynamic perspective:" does the attachment model of eating disorders indicate the need for psychodynamic treatment?

Tasca and Balfour have done admirable work highlighting the importance of attachment security in the psychopathology of eating disorders (EDs), and their contributions are extremely valuable. For their points to be fully appreciated by the research and treatment-research communities, additional data are needed in key areas. Research is needed to help clarify the relative roles and cause-and-effect relationships between attachment insecurity, reflective functioning, and emotion regulation in the development and maintenance of EDs. Tasca and Balfour furthermore call their model "psychodynamic," and call for psychodynamically informed treatment for patients with attachment insecurity. For this call to be heeded, additional research is needed to examine whether the unique elements of psychodynamic psychotherapy have particular benefit for patients with insecure attachment styles. The unique psychodynamic elements considered in this comment include a therapeutic focus on reflective functioning, the patient's developmental history, the "unconscious," and the transference and countertransference. The utility of a non-directive (or patient-directed) therapeutic process is also considered. Investigation of these treatment issues could be extremely useful to practitioners and patients alike.