PURPOSE: The aim of this review was to propose and describe the design and delivery of an attachment-informed general mental health service. METHOD: We systematically searched the PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, COPAC, CINAHL, and Science Direct databases from 1960 to 2013. We also searched reference lists of relevant papers and directly contacted authors in the field. Literature describing attachment theory and its applicability in designing and delivering general mental health services was synthesized using thematic analysis. Papers published in English, books or chapters in edited books that described applying attachment theory in designing and delivering mental health services for adults and adolescents were included in the review. Of the 1,105 articles identified, 14 met inclusion criteria for the review. Eight key themes, and four subthemes, were extracted and organized to reflect the experience of a service user moving through the mental health system. RESULTS: Key themes extracted were as follows: service policy and evaluation; referrals; assessment and formulation; intervention; support for staff; support for carers; moving on; and potential service benefits. Papers reviewed suggested that service users with severe mental health problems have attachment needs that should be met in general mental health services. CONCLUSIONS: Attachment theory provides a useful framework to inform the design and delivery of general mental health services. The resource implications for services are discussed, as are limitations of the review and recommendations for future research. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Attachment theory should be used to inform the design and delivery of general mental health services. Mental health services should evaluate the extent to which they meet service users' attachment needs. Attachment-informed mental health services should assess outcomes, including cost-effectiveness over time. Papers included in this review focus on long-stay residential care or secure services and there is a limited experimental evidence base to show that providing an attachment-informed service improves patient outcomes.
PURPOSE: The aim of this review was to propose and describe the design and delivery of an attachment-informed general mental health service. METHOD: We systematically searched the PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, COPAC, CINAHL, and Science Direct databases from 1960 to 2013. We also searched reference lists of relevant papers and directly contacted authors in the field. Literature describing attachment theory and its applicability in designing and delivering general mental health services was synthesized using thematic analysis. Papers published in English, books or chapters in edited books that described applying attachment theory in designing and delivering mental health services for adults and adolescents were included in the review. Of the 1,105 articles identified, 14 met inclusion criteria for the review. Eight key themes, and four subthemes, were extracted and organized to reflect the experience of a service user moving through the mental health system. RESULTS: Key themes extracted were as follows: service policy and evaluation; referrals; assessment and formulation; intervention; support for staff; support for carers; moving on; and potential service benefits. Papers reviewed suggested that service users with severe mental health problems have attachment needs that should be met in general mental health services. CONCLUSIONS: Attachment theory provides a useful framework to inform the design and delivery of general mental health services. The resource implications for services are discussed, as are limitations of the review and recommendations for future research. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Attachment theory should be used to inform the design and delivery of general mental health services. Mental health services should evaluate the extent to which they meet service users' attachment needs. Attachment-informed mental health services should assess outcomes, including cost-effectiveness over time. Papers included in this review focus on long-stay residential care or secure services and there is a limited experimental evidence base to show that providing an attachment-informed service improves patient outcomes.
Authors: Andrew I Gumley; Simon Bradstreet; John Ainsworth; Stephanie Allan; Mario Alvarez-Jimenez; Maximillian Birchwood; Andrew Briggs; Sandra Bucci; Sue Cotton; Lidia Engel; Paul French; Reeva Lederman; Shôn Lewis; Matthew Machin; Graeme MacLennan; Hamish McLeod; Nicola McMeekin; Cathy Mihalopoulos; Emma Morton; John Norrie; Frank Reilly; Matthias Schwannauer; Swaran P Singh; Suresh Sundram; Andrew Thompson; Chris Williams; Alison Yung; Lorna Aucott; John Farhall; John Gleeson Journal: Health Technol Assess Date: 2022-05 Impact factor: 4.106
Authors: Angela Sweeney; Sarah Clement; Kate Gribble; Elizabeth Jackson; Sarah Carr; Jocelyn Catty; Steve Gillard Journal: Health Expect Date: 2019-01-08 Impact factor: 3.377
Authors: Angelo Picardi; Mauro Pallagrosi; Laura Fonzi; Giovanni Martinotti; Emanuele Caroppo; Giulio Nicolò Meldolesi; Giancarlo Di Gennaro; Marco De Risi; Massimo Biondi Journal: Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health Date: 2019-12-31