Brandon

Predictions of Symptom Change in Psychotherapy Based on Attachment Style

Lindsey Brandon

Abstract

The present study examines the relationship between attachment dimensions and symptom change in therapy using the Adult Attachment Scale and the Brief Adult Outcome Questionnaire. It was hypothesized that higher levels on the closeness and dependence dimension of attachment, the lower the symptom severity at the time of the last assessment. It was also hypothesized that the high levels on the anxious dimension of attachment, the higher the symptom severity at the time of the last assessment. The results showed no significant data to support the hypothesis. However, there were significant correlations found between the close attachment dimension and pre-treatment social functioning scores, the anxiety dimension and both pre-treatment symptom scores and pre-treatment functioning scores, and the close attachment dimension and the depend attachment dimension.

Keywords: attachment style, symptom change, psychotherapy, attachment dimensions, counseling outcomes