Adult attachment and early parental experiences in patients with Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s Disease (CD) is a chronic, relapsing and remitting inflammatory bowel disease. The relationship of attachment to illness is considered bidirectional. 102 patients with CD and 306 healthy subjects filled out Attachment Style Questionnaire and Parental Bonding Instrument. The evaluation of attachment style and early parental experiences in patients with CD may shed a light on the bidirectional relationship between attachment and illness. Patients with CD exhibit a predominantly insecure attachment and perceived their parents’ behaviours characterised by lower maternal care and higher paternal overprotection. Those findings may confirm the bidirectional relationship between insecure attachment and chronic illness.