The effectiveness and efficacy of different intervention or therapy or treatment for adults with insecure attachment: a systematic review

Background: Insecure attachment is associated with physical, relational and financial costs, while people with secure attachment experience various benefits and are more likely to thrive in their life. This systematic review aimed to summarize the effectiveness and the efficacy of different interventions treating insecure attachment. Methods: The review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The search of records on PubMed and PsycINFO was completed on October 1st 2023. Records were included if they conducted intervention or therapy or treatment to treat adults with insecure attachment, if they assessed the attachment style of participants through standardized instruments or through self-report questionnaire and if they measured outcome. Studies were excluded if they were not written in English or in Italian, did not present original data or were not published articles or books. Results: Based on 8 studies (pooled N = 285), all the interventions reported positive changes or statistically significant results. However there were differences in the detail and in the magnitude of the effects. Limitations: There were personal bias of the reviewer and several factors that resulted in the heterogeneity of the included articles. Conclusions: The effectiveness of interventions treating adults with insecure attachment style needs further investigation. Future research should conduct studies with bigger sample size, examining subgroup analyses and short- and long-term effects.