Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Researchers have shown that early interactions between a child and their primary caregiver, as an indicator of attachment, play a significant role in the development of mental illness. Specifically, past research has found that individuals who had negative childhood relationships with their caregivers were more likely to develop a variety of psychological disorders. I plan to explore the influence of attachment on a patient`s perceptions of their therapist and the effectiveness of treatment approaches for individuals diagnosed with psychological disorders. To investigate this, a patient`s attachment style, self-reported symptoms, and perceptions of their therapist will be evaluated before and after treatment. Treatment effectiveness of attachment-based therapy (ABT) which focuses on promoting trusting relationships between the patient and therapist will be compared to traditional cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and drug treatments (e.g., antidepressants). Patients will be divided into groups based on their attachment style and the type of therapy received. It is predicted that the patients who experienced nurturing relationships in childhood and have positive perceptions of their therapist will show the greatest reduction in symptoms after receiving the combined treatment approach of attachment-based therapy and drug therapy. This study will advance our knowledge on the role of attachment in the development and treatment of psychological disorders which would benefit mental health patients, their families, clinicians, and society. In particular, this research would provide a greater understanding of mental illness and aid clinicians in developing effective treatment options that promote the rehabilitation of mental health patients. Furthermore, the knowledge gained from this project could foster recovery, assist in the reintegration of mental health patients back into society, and improve the outcomes of individuals diagnosed with psychological disorders.