The examination of the relationship between the blood oxytocin level and attachment styles among mothers of schizophrenia patients

Objective: Attachment is defined as the continuing and consistent emotional bond between child and caregiver. The inadequacies or the occasional failures in relation between mother and child will affect the attachment negatively. A number of studies have demonstrated that there is a relationship between insecure attachment and the symptoms of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Oxytocin hormone have positive effects in attachment, social interaction and child care. Studies regarding the level of blood oxytocin and its associations with the attachment styles of mothers of schizophrenia patients are very rare in the literature. The aim of our study is to clarify the attachment patterns believed to play a role in the etiology of schizophrenia and to compare the current relationship of oxytocin hormone with the parents of patients in comparison with the healthy control group. Methods: Thirty-four healthy mother of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 31 healthy mothers were included to the study. Participants completed the Close Relationships Inventory-II and blood oxytocin levels were measured. The t test was used to compare the groups and the Pearson correlation analysis was used for the correlation. Results: In the study, it was determined that mothers of schizophrenic patients had higher Close Relationships Inventory-II scores and lower blood oxytocin levels than healthy controls. In addition, there was an inverse correlation between blood oxytocin level and Close Relationships Inventory-II scores. Conclusion: In our study, insecure attachment patterns (anxious and avoidant) were observed in the mothers of schizophrenic patients and it was shown that there was a significant relationship between the style of attachment and oxytocin. Low blood of oxytocin levels were related with insecure attachment among the mothers of schizophrenic patients. Moreover, it can be considered that the mothers of the schizophrenic patients because of the bidirectional interaction affect the connection; it could develop unsafe attachment patterns.