The attachment characteristics of combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder

While the symptom profile and underlying neurobiology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have received considerable attention in the literature, less attention has been paid to the interpersonal dynamics, social isolation and emotional numbing associated with the disorder. The relational dynamics of combat veterans with PTSD are considered through the lens of attachment theory. Fifty combat veterans with a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder were administered standardized measures of attachment style, PTSD symptoms, combat exposure and cognitions associated with PTSD. Correlations between PTSD symptom measures and attachment measures were modest. However the distribution of attachment classifications in the veteran sample was significantly different from comparison groups. Findings suggest that combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder endorse characteristically avoidant attachment styles. Theoretical and clinical implications of this fording, with emphasis on the role of the therapeutic alliance, are discussed.