The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada.
Psychiatry. 2011 Fall;74(3):255-69. doi: 10.1521/psyc.2011.74.3.255.
Adult attachment and group process research are emerging areas of research for treating eating disorders. In this study, we examined several aspects of group processes: the weekly growth of group therapy climate, the relationship between group climate growth and outcomes, and the impact of the group on individual experiences of group climate. Further, we assessed the relationship between adult attachment dimensions and these group processes. Women (n = 264) diagnosed with an eating disorder completed attachment scales pre-treatment, eating disorder symptom scales pre- and post-treatment, and group climate scales weekly during treatment. Treatment consisted of a specialized eating disorders group-based day hospital program with rolling admissions. Engaged group climate increased and Avoidance group climate decreased across weeks of treatment. Engaged group climate growth was associated with improved eating disorder symptoms post-treatment. Higher attachment avoidance at pre-treatment was related to lower Engaged group climate at week 1, and was related to a greater impact of the group on the individual's experience of group engagement. Clinicians might improve group processes and outcomes by tailoring interventions to individuals' attachment avoidance when treating women for eating disorders.
成人依恋与团体过程研究是治疗进食障碍的新兴研究领域。本研究考察了团体过程的几个方面：团体治疗氛围的每周增长、团体氛围增长与结果的关系，以及团体对个体团体氛围体验的影响。此外，我们评估了成人依恋维度与这些团体过程的关系。患有进食障碍的女性（n = 264）在治疗前完成了依恋量表、进食障碍症状量表的治疗前和治疗后，以及在治疗期间每周进行团体氛围量表的评估。治疗包括专门的基于团体的进食障碍日间医院计划，滚动招生。参与式团体氛围在治疗期间呈上升趋势，回避式团体氛围呈下降趋势。参与式团体氛围的增长与治疗后进食障碍症状的改善有关。治疗前依恋回避程度较高与第 1 周参与式团体氛围较低有关，并且与团体对个体团体参与体验的影响较大有关。临床医生可以通过在治疗进食障碍女性时针对个体的依恋回避来调整干预措施，从而改善团体过程和结果。
