The effects of attachment security priming on posttraumatic appraisals among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Background

Research has shown strong links between attachment insecurity and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Individuals with insecure attachment are more likely to have internal working models that are associated with appraisals important in PTSD, suggesting that cognitive mechanisms link attachment insecurity and PTSD.

Objective

The current study utilised security priming to investigate the causal relationship between attachment style and negative posttraumatic appraisals in participants with PTSD.Method: Participants (n = 65) with probable PTSD were asked to imagine either an attachment figure (security priming) or an acquaintance (control). They then completed the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI).

Results

As expected, security priming decreased negative posttraumatic appraisals, including negative posttraumatic appraisals about self and self-blame. In addition, attachment avoidance moderated one priming effect, such that security priming had a reduced effect on self-blame scores for those high in attachment avoidance.

Conclusions

These findings provide support for attachment systems influencing cognitive appraisals, which can be a risk factor for PTSD.