The effectiveness of attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy in improving insecure attachment and obsessive love in women

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy inimproving insecure attachment and obsessive love in women with obsessive love style. The research design was in the framework of a single-subject experimental design with a single baseline with a follow-up. The statistical population of the study included all women referring to medical and counseling centers in Mashhad who presented with problems in intimate relationships in 1998-99, that were selected by purposive sampling of three women. Materials with a research design were measured at the baseline stage using the Frilly et al.'s (2000) Close Relationship Experience Questionnaire and the Phalango Love Addiction Questionnaire (2012). Then, in the intervention phase, during 50 sessions (two sessions of 45 minutes per week), attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy was performed based on the model. In this regard, the scores of the variables were measured in the intermediate stage, after treatment and two month follow-up. For data analysis, visual and graphical analysis methods as well as calculation of recovery percentage were used. Data analysis showed that attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy was affected on improvement the anxious insecure attachment and obsessive love style also the results showed that attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy had little effect on modifying the avoidant insecure attachment style of women. These findings can have practical implications in clinical fields and improve obsessive love style and anxious attachment in women.