Changes in distress of psychiatric in-patients after the changeover of junior psychiatric trainees as a function of attachment style: A pilot study

• Autores: David Dodwell, Toral Thomas, Zeinab Iqbal
• Localización: European journal of psychiatry, ISSN 0213-6163, Vol. 26, Nº 1, 2012, págs. 21-29
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Background and Objectives: Therapists, including psychiatrists, may act as attachment figures. Rotational training schemes necessitate the regular and frequent ending of therapeutic relationships. The effects on patients are rarely studied. This is a pilot prospective study to evaluate whether relative distress in adult psychiatric in-patients follows change in trainee psychiatrists; whether differences in distress are mediated by patient attachment style; and to provide data for power calculation.

    Methods: Twenty adult in-patients were assessed using the Mental Health Inventory 5 (MHI-5) scale before and after changeover of psychiatric trainees; attachment style was assessed prior to the changeover. Qualitative data were also collected.

    Results: The average MHI-5 scores improved with time (p = 0.021). Less improvement correlated with higher score on preoccupied attachment (rho = 0.41, p1-tail <0.05). A nonsignificantly stronger improvement was seen with secure/dismissing styles compared to preoccupied/fearful styles (p1-tail = 0.08). Based on these results, a study of at least 87 patients is likely to produce a statistically significant result. Most patients were not aware a staff change was due and would like to be informed by their clinical team.

    Conclusions: Relative distress following junior trainee changeover may have a link with patients� attachment styles.