Effect ofattachment-based therapy on mental health in girls with attachment problems

The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of attachment-based therapy on rate of mental health (reduction of depression, hyper anxiety and oppositional defiant) in girl students of primary school who had attachment problems. This is an empirical study with pretest-posttest and control group that accomplished in 2011. The target samples were 34 individuals of 388 2nd and 4th grade students of primary school that had highest scores on attachment and behavioral problems (depression, hyper anxiety and oppositional defiant). Evaluation implemented using Randolph attachment disorder questionnaire (RADQ) and Ontario mental health test. Mothers were participated in 10 sessions of grouptherapy with attachment-based intervention and its effects were assessed in their girl`s mental health (reduction rate of depression, hyper anxiety and oppositional defiant symptoms). SPSS-16 software and descriptive statistics and covariate analysis method were used to analyze the data. The mean post- test (P<0.05) and follow up (P<0.05) scores of depression, hyper anxiety and oppositional defiant symptoms in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The reduction rate which was reported for these symptoms totally was 0.72 in posttest and 0.85 in three months follow up. The attachment based therapy was effective for increase of mental health in the girls with attachment problems and the mother`s continues attention to interventional methods caused more improvement in follow up evaluation.