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Maternal drug addiction: Mother-child relationship and attachment-informed interventions. La tossicodipendenza materna: Il legame madre-bambino e modelli di intervento basati sull’attaccamento.
No full textMaternal drug addiction: Mother-child relationship and attachment-informed inter -
ventions
Maternal substance abuse constitutes a severe risk factor for the child’s emotional and relational
development, especially in terms of caregiving environment. Attachment theory
offers a reliable theoretical framework to comprehend the influence that drug addiction
exerts on the quality of the adult state of mind, the parental function of protection and
care towards the child and the quality of the mother-child relationship that, in turn, affect
the development of infant attachment. As a matter of fact, national and international studies
observe that drug addicted mothers and their children show a prevalence of insecure
attachment, even though they fail in identifying a predominant model of insecurity. Nevertheless,
these results have fostered the implementation of treatment programs that focus
specifically on the addicted mother-child relationship, based partly on already available
intervention protocols and partly on new specific features accordingly to this clinical population.
The present review presents the outcomes of studies on the adult and on the infant
attachment in dyads where the mother is drug-addicted and describes the treatment protocols
based on attachment theory that are currently available.
Keywords: drug-addicted mothers, mother-infant attachment, attachment and drug addiction,
attachment-informed interventions, attachment and psychopathology
Attachment Theory and Maternal Drug Addiction: The Contribution to Parenting interventions.
Full text linkChildren’s emotional and relational development can be negatively influenced bymaternal substance abuse, particularly through a dysfunctional caregiving environment. Attachment Theory offers a privileged framework to analyze how drug addiction can affect the quality of adult attachment style, parenting attitudes and behaviors toward the child, and how it can have a detrimental effect on the co-construction of the attachment bond by the mother and the infant. Several studies, as a matter of fact, have identified a prevalence of insecure patterns among drug-abusing mothers and their children. Many interventions for mothers with Substance Use Disorders have focused on enhancing parental skills, but they have often overlooked the emotional and relational features of the mother–infant bond. Instead, in recent years, a number of protocols have been developed in order to strengthen the relationship between drug-abusing mothers and their children, drawing lessons from Attachment Theory. The present study reviews the literature on the adult and infant attachment style in the context of drug addiction, describing currently available treatment programs that address parenting and specifically focus on the mother–infant bond, relying on Attachment Theory
Two Perspectives On Drug-Addiction In Young Age: Neuropsychological Functioning And Personality Traits.
No full textThe study explores Substance Use Disorder in young age assessing neuropsychological profile, personality traits and emotional functioning in drug-addicts aged 18-24. The association between these domains is also verified, suggesting that personality disorders, emotional dysregulation problems and executive function impairments all refer to a common core, namely problematic control
The observation of triadic family interactions with the Lausanne Trilogue Play (LTP): which influences and trend from pregnancy to the preschool age?
Full text linkThe systemic-relational perspective by Fivaz-Depeursigne and Corboz-Warnery (Lausanne Trilogue Play) and Belsky’s model of parenting constitute a valuable theoretical and methodological framework to observe family interactions. Few researches have investigated the development of the quality of family interactions adopting the LTP and a longitudinal approach; besides available results are inconsistent. The present study aims to investigate: a) the developmental patterns of observed mother-father-child interactions from pregnancy to preschool age b) the influence of dyadic satisfaction and father involvement on the quality of triadic interactions longitudinally.103 families were observed at pregnancy, 4th, 9th, 12th, 18th month of child’s life and at preschool age (36th-48th month), with the LTP (prenatal and postnatal), together with two self-report measures investigating marital quality (Dyadic Adjustment Scale; Spanier, 1976) and father involvement in childcare (Father Involvement Questionnaire; Frascarolo, 1994). Data were analyzed through a multilevel approach, in order to highlight the developmental trend and influencing variables. Data indicate that future parents’ interactive capacities showed during pregnancy influence postnatal triadic relationships. Moreover, the quality of family interactions increases from pregnancy to preschool age. Father involvement and dyadic satisfaction differently contribute to family interaction quality and its trend over time. Higher levels of father involvement predict a higher quality of interactions between mother-father-child. Dyadic satisfaction shows a deterioration over time, which is inversely associated to the quality of observed interactions.
The improvement of the quality of early family exchanges represents a valuable result given the role of family interactions as developmental matrix for child’s socio-emotional development. Moreover, fathers involvement in childcare can be considered a particularly important resource for the family, exerting its positive influence from the earliest stages of child’s life
Interactive behaviors and attachment patterns in the strange situation procedure: A validation of the Ainsworth model
No full textThe Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, Wall, 1978) is the most widely used
procedure to assess attachment in early childhood (Bowlby, 1969). In the original text by Ainsworth et al. (1978), the video
coding is carried out by means of a two-step procedure: in the first part, coders apply a series of observational scales with
graduated scores on a Likert scale, whereas during the second part, a descriptive category of attachment is assigned, which
somehow “summarizes” the general quality of the child’s behaviour, already assessed by means of scales. Obviously, the
system validation study highlights a discriminant correspondence between the scores which are assigned through the scales
and the descriptive category which is assigned in the end. The aim of the present study was to test this specific aspect of the
Strange Situation coding procedure: in order to do so, and similarly to what had been done in the original work in 1978, we
compared the categorical attachment classification system with the ordinal one provided by the scales, which describe the
child’s behaviors in the various procedure episodes. 76 12-month-old infants were observed in the Strange Situation
Procedure in order to compare the classification of attachment by the global descriptive patterns with the Ainsworth’s
microanalytic coding system (Interactive Behavior Scales). Results: Discriminant function analysis (MDFA) and
classification weights confirm the discriminant functions of the interactive behavior to differentiate between patterns of
attachment and attesting good validity of the methodology and the coding system
Addicted babies: a research model on development of children born and grown in a community context.
No full textAddicted babies refers to children born dependent on psychoactive substances, since their mothers are drug-addicted. The studies on the detrimental effects of substance-exposure on child development generally do not take into account that frequently these children were born and raised in therapeutic communities (TC) for drug-addicted mothers and children, that provides children with specific intervention tools. Therefore, this paper aims to present an protocol to assess and monitor the development of children born and raised in a residential TC. This approach will be explained through the presentation of a single case: the first assessment occurred when he was one year old and then repeated when he was two years old. The outcomes point out an increase in mother’s sensitivity and responsivity in interacting with her child at the 12-month-follow-up. The importance of using early intervention approaches that are specific to the TC context for drug-exposed children will be discussed
An Innovative Psychological Assessment Method for Young Drug-Addicts. Connections with the Clinical Intervention. An Illustrative Case-Study
No full textThe development of new assessment and treatment protocols for Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) has been recently fostered by epidemiological data, which indicates that drug-related problems mainly peak in young age; moreover, there have been important changes in the phenomenon of drug addiction, which often involves early onset, poly-drug use and the diffusion of new psychoactive drugs. An enhanced comprehension of the current manifestations of SUDs is the essential step to take, in order to inform and improve treatment programs targeting this clinical population. As a consequence, there is the strong need for assessment protocols that are age-appropriate and capable of addressing such a complex and multi-determined clinical condition. Reporting Adrian’s case, a young inpatient undergoing a residential community program, the present study illustrates the most salient features of SUD in young age. Secondly, the paper offers the opportunity to describe an innovative psychological assessment protocol (multi-focus, multi-informant, multi-method and longitudinal) and its connections with the clinical treatment level, over one-year long treatment. Thirdly, it allows some important considerations about which psychological domains and characteristics should be primarily considered by treatment programs targeting substance dependence for individuals in their teens or twenties
Neuropsychological functioning and emotional distress in drug-addicted youth. A pilot study.
Full text linkEpidemiological studies suggest that the incidence of substance disorders peaks in young adulthood, generally involving poly-drug use and new psychoactive substances. Consistent evidence attest emotional problems in drug addicts, especially in terms of alexithymia and sensation-seeking,
and substance abuse has been conceived as resulting from inadequate coping strategies, mainly relying on avoidance. Substance abuse itself is seen as a dysfunctional mean of coping with negative emotions such as fear and anxiety. Furthermore, several studies prove that drug abuse leads to severe neurotoxic effects, with memory, attention and executive impairments even in young age. The study aims to identify the most critical features, and their interrelations, for the above- mentioned factors in young drug-addicts. The research involved 21 participants (age ranged from 17 to 25 years) undergoing residential treatment; most of them were poly-drug users, mixing heroin and synthetic drugs, and were low-educated. The instruments administered addressed: psychological symptoms (Symptom Checklist -90 Revised, SCL-90-R), coping
strategies (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced- Nuova Versione Italiana, COPE-NVI), alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 items, TAS-20; Observer Alexithymia Scale OAS), sensation seeking (Sensation Seeking Scale, SSS-VI) and cognitive functions (Esame Neuropsicologico Breve, ENB-2). The research provided for both self-report and observational tools (administered to social workers that knew well the patient) in order to compare the two evaluations and to infer in which extent participants were well-aware of their difficulties. Participants revealed a significant psychological distress (specifically in terms of anxiety and depression), the prevalence of maladaptive coping strategies (relying mainly on avoidant coping and overestimating the extent in which they turn to others to obtain social support) and notable emotional difficulties, with high rate of alexithymia and sensation seeking. As regard the neuropsychological functioning, attention and memory resulted to be the most impaired functions. Results also highlight that the cognitive functioning significantly correlates with psychological distress, maladaptive coping and emotional problems. Young drug-addicts present a complex and severe clinical condition, in which the role of neuropsychological deficits seems to be crucial. Appropriate treatments focusing on neuropsychological rehabilitations are needed besides the traditional psycho-dynamically oriented interventions provided in Italy to drug-addicts
Cognitive and Emotional Functioning in Young Drug-addicts. Preliminary findings
No full textIntroduction: Adolescence is a vulnerable age for experimenting with drugs, unfortunately early substance abuse has severe detrimental effects on cognitive functioning. Moreover, drug addiction is also characterized by affective dysregulation, in terms of high rates of sensation-seeking and alexithymia and poor emotional intelligence. Cognitive control and emotion regulation abilities are directly associated and are largely implemented by the same frontal cortex areas, which are also the main target of drug abuse. Objective: The present research aims to study the neuropsychological performance and the emotional functioning in young drug addicts, investigating possible interrelations between these two domains. Methods: a battery of neuropsychological tests (ENB-2) and self-report tools, addressing alexithymia (TAS-20), sensation seeking (SSS-VI) and emotional intelligence (EQ-i), were administered to 19 young drug-addicts. An observer scale to evaluate alexithymia (OAS) was also used. Results: subjects showed memory and attention deficits. High rates of alexithymia emerged, but only in the observer scale; also past experience of disinhibition and inadequate emotional intelligence abilities were identified. Several significant correlations were detected between cognitive functions and affective style, especially as regards executive functions and alexithymia. Conclusions: These findings suggest that drug-dependence in young age is not only characterized by neuropsychological deficits and difficulties in emotion regulations, but these two domains are associated, delineating a severe clinical conditions that requires specific treatment
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