Abstract/Results: | RESULTS:
Based on recent technological advances, we developed (Bial Grant 43/96), a fully digital multimedia system named BioDReAMS (Bio Dual-channel and Representation of Attachment Multimedia System) that allows a synchronous collection of video and audio information, ECG signals and skin conductance during the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). The present project aims:1) to improve BioDReAMS, by developing a new version; 2) to apply BioDReAMS 2.0 to a non-clinical group of 50 young females that will be compared to a matched clinical eating disorders sample.
BioDReAMS 2.0 improved at data acquisition, video, program structure, and document mode.
Data from 50 females, between 15-36 years old (M=21.82; D.P.=4.92), from different educational and occupational backgrounds has been collected. Eleven subjects were matched, based on social-demographical information, with 11 patients diagnosed with eating disorders. The AAI scored with Kobak’s Q-Sort method was used to assess 3 attachment patterns, mega-items and deactivation-hyperactivation strategies. The relations between these attachment parameters and two physiological measures, heart rate (HR) and skin conductance level (SCL), during the AAI, were examined using BioDReAMS 2.0.
Within the non-clinical group, 33 were classified as secure, 11 as dismissing, and 6 as preoccupied. In the clinical sample, 4 patients were secure, 4 preoccupied and 3 dismissing. Compared to the non-clinical, the clinical group showed higher scores in family disruption, preoccupied, and family enmeshment mega-items. Non-clinical subjects showed increased sympathetic activity when talking about problems, separations, and deaths, compared to their resting baseline. Insecure subjects showed tendencies for highest parasympathetic activity when talking about threats. In the clinical sample, moderate to high correlations were found between deactivation and increased parasympathetic activity in the response to problems, separations, rejections, deaths, and traumatic experiences.
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Secondary author(s):
| Cunha, J., Silva, C. F., Machado, P., Costa, O., Silva, C.
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