Attachment Style and Outcome in Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents

In several studies, the association between attachment style and psychotherapy outcome has been shown for adults. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between attachment style and outcome of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for children and adolescents. 71 children and adolescents with a mental disorder receiving out-patient short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy were studied. Attachment style was assessed with the Heidelberg Attachment Style Rating for Children and Adolescents (HASR-CA). Therapy outcome was measured using the Severity of Impairment Score for Children and Adolescents (SIS-CA). It could be shown that good outcome in therapy is significantly more frequently associated with a secure attachment style than with an insecure attachment style. No significant changes in attachment security were observed during treatment. Thus, attachment style is a good predictor of a successful short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for children and adolescents and therefore is an important criterion for the differential indication for psychodynamic therapies.