Attachment styles and dysfunctional attitudes among patients of functional neurological symptom disorder

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore dysfunctional attitudes and attachment styles of the patients suffering from functional neurological symptom disorder (FNSD) and the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and attachment styles. METHODS: This prospective correlational research design was used on a sample of 150 patients of FNSD enrolled using purposive sampling technique. The study was conducted at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore, Pakistan from March 2018 until March 2019. For purpose of assessment demographic sheet, Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) and Revised Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) were used. The results were retrieved using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: Out of 150 patients, 130 (86.7%) were females & 20 (13.3%) were males. The mean age of the patients was 31.35±9.01 years. Majority (n=70, 46.7%) were the middle-born children in birth-order. Seventy percent (n=105) were married, 80 (53.3%) had joint family system, 100 (66.7%) had low socioeconomic status, 95 (63.3%) had rented residence and 110 (73.3%) were from urban areas. Mean duration of education was 7.43±4.25 years. Patients of FNSD reported high range of scores on DAS (187.92±23.61). In AAS, highest mean scores were recorded for anxiety attachment style (26.52 ±2.38), followed by dependent attachment style (20.21±3.03). A significant correlation (r=0.26) was noted for DAS with anxiety attachment style (p-value<0.01). CONCLUSION: The patients with FNSD exhibit anxious attachment style and high range of dysfunctional attitudes. The anxious attachment style and dysfunctional attitudes are significantly associated with each other.