Attachment patterns in eating disorders: Past in the present

Objective: There is a wide literature suggesting abnormal mother-daughter a nd familial attachment patterns in individuals with eating disorders. We su rmised that this insecurity would extend to adult attachment relationships. Methods: The Reciprocal Attachment Questionnaire (RAQ) was administered to all inpatients and outpatients at a tertiary referral eating disorders uni t over a given period of time, and to controls. The RAQ operationalizes the key components of reciprocal attachment, and is in close theoretical agree ment with the Adult Attachment Interview. Results: Patients scored signific antly higher than controls on most scales of the RAQ, most notably on Compu lsive Care-Seeking and Compulsive Self-Reliance. We did not find any associ ations between eating disorder diagnoses and particular attachment profiles . Conclusions: A basic "pull-push" dilemma was demonstrated in the reciproc al attachment relationships of eating-disordered subjects. This dilemma bed evils attempts at therapy and may illuminate the strong feelings elicited b y these patients in their therapists. The association of attachment style w ith particular disorder subgroup diagnoses is complicated. Childhood attach ment insecurity may provide a vulnerability whose symptomatic manifestation is colored by later events. (C) 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.