Associations Between Adult Attachment Styles and Medication Treatment Satisfaction Among Community Patients with Severe Mental Disorders

Abstract

Background:

Treatment satisfaction for medication (TSM) in severe mental disorders (SMDs) is a crucial indicator of treatment effectiveness and outcomes. Studies have shown associations between treatment adherence, therapeutic relationship, and TSM, with attachment styles playing a significant role. However, little is known about how attachment styles are associated with TSM among community-dwelling patients with SMDs.

Aims:

This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between attachment styles and TSM.

Methods:

The Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) and Treatment Satisfaction with Medication Questionnaire II (TSQM-II) were used to assess attachment styles and medication satisfaction, respectively. Linear regression analyses were performed to explore the associations between attachment dimensions and TSM.

Results:

The close-depend attachment was positively associated with the TSQM-II total score (β = 29.21, p < .001), effectiveness (β = 6.01, p < .001), side effects (β = 9.19, p < .001), convenience (β = 7.63, p < .001), and global satisfaction (β = 6.38, p < .001). The anxiety attachment had a negative association with the TSQM-II total score (β = −15.19, p < .001), side effects (β = −5.80, p < .001), convenience (β = −3.93, p < .01), and global satisfaction (β = −3.36, p < .01), but not with effectiveness (β = −2.10, p > .05).

Conclusions:

Both categorical and dimensional attachment styles were associated with treatment satisfaction, with the dimensional approach offering greater nuance. Close-depend was positively linked to all satisfaction domains, whereas anxiety was negatively associated with side effects, convenience, and global satisfaction, but not with effectiveness. These findings underscore the value of incorporating attachment-informed strategies into community-based mental health care.

Keywords

adult attachment styles medication treatment satisfaction severe mental disorders

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