An Introductory Investigation of the Causes of Continuation of Clinical Syndromes of Emotional Breakdown of University Students Based on Attachment Styles and Early Maladaptive Schemas

Psychological constructs such as attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas play a significant role in creating interpersonal problems. This study aimed to determine the causes of continuation of clinical syndromes of emotional breakdown of university students based on attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas. In so doing، in a comparative-scientific study from among Tabriz City university students those who had suffered from emotional beak-down at least 3 months back and still had its symptoms، 40 students with Clinical Syndromes and 40 students without Clinical Syndromes were selected through purposive sampling method. Then، these subjects were administered the short version of Hazan and Shaver Young Schema Questionnaire، and the Adult Attachment Questionnaire. Results showed that both groups had significant differences in early maladaptive schemas and attachment styles. These findings reveal the decisive role of schemas and attachment style in breaking up individuals'' emotional relationships and pathological reactions. Likewise، it seems that treatment focused on these two structures i. e. attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas could be effective in improving problems resulting from emotional break-down.