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Using Attachment Theory within Mental Health Community Services to improve Patient Outcomes and reduce Service Utilisation Costs

Roberts, Nicola Halina

[Thesis]. Manchester, UK: The University of Manchester; 2012.

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Abstract

This thesis follows the paper-based format and papers one and two have been prepared for submission to Attachment and Human Development and the British Journal of Clinical Psychology, respectively. The relevant submission guidelines are included in the appendices (Appendix A and B).Attachment theory (Bowlby, 1977a) has prompted a wealth of empirical research in its contribution to adult attachment patterns and subsequent psychopathology in mental health (Holmes, 2001; Wallin, 2007). More recently, attachment theory has been proposed as a suitable framework by which to inform the organisation, design and delivery of mental health services (Goodwin, 2003; Seager et al., 2007) but it is unclear what this would look like in practice. Adopting an attachment-informed service model has key implications for individual and service outcomes and the two papers presented in this thesis aim to contribute to research in this area, followed by a critical review of the research, its relevance and future implications.Paper one is a narrative overview of the literature discussing the practice implications of services adopting an attachment-informed framework, and describes how this might be conceptualised in front-line service delivery. Articles reviewed described the influence of attachment theory in predominantly inpatient, secure forensic and/or psychiatric rehabilitation services, and its application within more generic community mental health services was explored. Paper two aimed to investigate the importance of individual attachment and service attachment to client psychopathology, quality of life, service utilisation and service costs in community-based mental health services.The final section, the Critical Review, critiqued the literature review and aimed to place the research within a wider context. This section considers the findings from the research and the limitations of the study, while also highlighting important issues for services, with implications for clinical practice and future research.

Bibliographic metadata

Type of resource:
Content type:
Form of thesis:
Type of submission:
Degree type:
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Degree programme:
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
Publication date:
Location:
Manchester, UK
Total pages:
148
Abstract:
This thesis follows the paper-based format and papers one and two have been prepared for submission to Attachment and Human Development and the British Journal of Clinical Psychology, respectively. The relevant submission guidelines are included in the appendices (Appendix A and B).Attachment theory (Bowlby, 1977a) has prompted a wealth of empirical research in its contribution to adult attachment patterns and subsequent psychopathology in mental health (Holmes, 2001; Wallin, 2007). More recently, attachment theory has been proposed as a suitable framework by which to inform the organisation, design and delivery of mental health services (Goodwin, 2003; Seager et al., 2007) but it is unclear what this would look like in practice. Adopting an attachment-informed service model has key implications for individual and service outcomes and the two papers presented in this thesis aim to contribute to research in this area, followed by a critical review of the research, its relevance and future implications.Paper one is a narrative overview of the literature discussing the practice implications of services adopting an attachment-informed framework, and describes how this might be conceptualised in front-line service delivery. Articles reviewed described the influence of attachment theory in predominantly inpatient, secure forensic and/or psychiatric rehabilitation services, and its application within more generic community mental health services was explored. Paper two aimed to investigate the importance of individual attachment and service attachment to client psychopathology, quality of life, service utilisation and service costs in community-based mental health services.The final section, the Critical Review, critiqued the literature review and aimed to place the research within a wider context. This section considers the findings from the research and the limitations of the study, while also highlighting important issues for services, with implications for clinical practice and future research.
Thesis main supervisor(s):
Language:
en

Institutional metadata

University researcher(s):

Record metadata

Manchester eScholar ID:
uk-ac-man-scw:170347
Created by:
Roberts, Nicola
Created:
19th September, 2012, 14:04:58
Last modified by:
Roberts, Nicola
Last modified:
9th January, 2019, 09:50:13

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