Strengthening Attachment-Based Therapies: A Case for Cognitive Bias Modification?

Abstract

A recent article published in the Journal describes the effectiveness of attachment-based family therapy in decreasing suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in adolescents. ¹Because insecure attachment is a transdiagnostic risk factor in the development of psychological problems in children and adolescents, improving attachment relationships is an important therapeutic endeavor. In their article, Diamond et al. suggest that programs such as attachment-based family therapy might become more effective or "fortified by integrating more specific cognitive and emotional skills training." ¹In the current letter, we want to argue that such a claim is theoretically meaningful, how such fortification might be achieved, and which training components might be added. Most importantly, we want to plea for clinical research that puts this claim to a test.