Attachment relationship and oxytocin among people addicted to alcohol – a literature review

Abstract

Objective: This paper is aimed at reviewing the literature on oxytocin and attachment relationship among people addicted to alcohol. The paper describes in a holistic way their possible interactions with bio-psycho-social risk factors for the development of addiction. It also indicates the possible practical use of oxytocin in addiction therapy. Material and method: The literature review was made with the use of the following databases: PsycINFO, PubMed and Google Scholar. Each database was searched using the following keywords: ‘secure’, ‘disorganised’, ‘genetic’, and ‘therapy’. These keywords were combined with the terms “attachment style”, “oxytocin” and each time with “alcohol addiction”. Results: The analysis of the literature confirms that people addicted to alcohol are more often characterised by relational problems than healthy people. The association of oxytocin with the attachment relationship is mediated by epigenetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors. Research also confirms that the use of oxytocin in addiction therapy brings positive effects for some patients. Discussion and conclusions: The ability to build satisfactory interpersonal relationships is a protective factor against alcohol use. The article indicates the role that oxytocin plays in building interpersonal relationships and the possibility of its use in addiction therapy.