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  Gordon Wolf, Ph.D.
  About The Author

No More Faceplants Science

Avoidant Attachment Strategy and Illness

Avoidant adult patients with higher avoidance scores were more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, somatoform disease, reflux disease, skin pigmentation disorder, psoriasis, and more severe tinnitus. They had a greater incidence of ulcerative colitis than patients with the genetic marker for ulcerative colitis, but who are not Avoidant.

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• Granqvist, P., Lantto, S., Ortiz, L., and Andersson, G. “Adult Attachment, Perceived Family Support, and Problems Experienced by Tinnitus Patients.” Psychology and Health 16, 2001: 357-366.
• Maunder R. G., Lancee, W. J., Greenberg, G., Hunter, J. J., and Fernandes, B. “Insecure Attachment in a Subgroup of Ulcerative Colitis Defined by ANCA Status.” Digestive Diseases Science 45, 2000: 2127-2132.
• Picardi, A., Toni, A., and Caroppo, E. “Stability of Alexithymia and its Relationships with the ‘Big Five’ Factors, Temperament, Character, and Attachment Style.” Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 74, 2005: 371-378.
• Waller, E., Scheidt, C. E., and Hartmann, A. “Attachment Representation and Illness Behavior in Somatoform Disorders.” Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 192, 2004: 200-209.
• Tacon, A. M., Caldera, Y. M., and Bell, N. J. “Attachment Style, Emotional Control, and Breast Cancer.” Families, Systems and Health 19, 2001: 319-326.