How to Treat Depression Using Attachment Theory

Attachment theory assumes that an adult who has been neglected as a child will have a difficult time developing genuine, affectionate relationships. Such insecure people have a difficult time getting close to others, or, alternatively, are convinced that they are not worthy of love and hence, distrust anyone who tries to get too close. These all lead to depression and feelings of worthlessness.

Instructions

• 1

  Encourage depressed patients to develop loving relationships without anxiety. The basic thesis here is that the patient should realize he has no control over what others do, and hence, this should not produce anxiety. Trusting attachments with others provide a sense of worth and esteem for those who are convinced they are unlovable.

• 2

  Remove all traces of relational anxiety. This particular problem leads the depressed and insecure person to seek to "merge" himself with anther person, to possess this person forever as a form of control. This often drives people away and hence, increases the depression. Anxiety in this case can be treated either cognitively or with medication.

• 3

  Convince the patient that there is a correlation between trusting attachments/relationships and the elimination of depressive symptoms. If depression derives from attachment disorder, than the use of medication can assist in the development of realistic and trusting relationships that will eliminate the root cause of depression. Treating the depression as a means of reinforcing good relationships is a central process. This in turn, will eliminate the depressive symptoms as real relationships are nurtured.

• 4

  Conceive the treatment process as something beyond the individual's recovery. In this case, recovery is a matter of community involvement and secure relationships. Hence, cognitive techniques should focus on the broader society rather than the problems that exist solely in the behavior of the individual. Solutions here can take the form of social, rather than individual, treatment of depression through group therapy and group projects.