Predicting the onset of Major Depressive Disorder by the Attachment theory: A systematic review of longitudinal studies

Abstract

Attachment theory is a psychodynamic theory, that is regarded to propose a reliable etiology for the onset of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This systematic review investigated the direct prediction of MDD, by the Attachment theory. To be included in the review, studies had to be peer-reviewed longitudinal studies and MDD had to be diagnosed with a clinical interview. Online databases were systematically searched, resulting in a total of 10.638 studies, of which, 3 were included in the systematic review. Of the included studies, 2 focused on the prediction of MDD by attachment style and insecure attachment severity and 1 on the prediction of MDD by attachment style and attachment to different people. The results demonstrated that fearful insecure attachment style and angry dismissive attachment style predicted more accurately the onset of the disorder. Moreover, for adolescents and young adults being insecurely attached to the mother, was found to be a predictor for the onset of the disorder. Nevertheless, the prediction of MDD by attachment styles is not absolute, because there are many other factors that contribute to the onset of the disorder. Attachment style cannot be considered the only predictor, to accurately determine the onset of MDD.