Abstract

REGUERA NIETO, Eduardo Agustín. Attachment, cortisol and stress in infants: a narrative review. Rev. Asoc. Esp. Neuropsiq. [online]. 2014, vol.34, n.124, pp.753-772. ISSN 2340-2733.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0211-57352014000400008.

This article presents a narrative review of the relationship between the biological processes that mediate the stress response - in this case, limiting ourselves to the hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal cortex - and internal working models derived from early attachment relationships in with respect to infants. It explains the successive phases of the biological response against a stressful event and emphasizes the importance of understanding how these internal models can be correlated with symptoms of chronic stress, states of dysregulation of the HPA axis and hyperor hypocortisolism situations functional. In this sense, contradictory data are evident when trying to relate dysfunctions of said shaft and specific attachment styles. It does seem to be evidence of the relationship between the nature of the stressor and different patterns of response and subsequent sensitization. More research is needed in order to design more psychotherapeutic interventions tailored to different attachment styles.

Keywords : object attachment; hydrocortisone; physiological stress reactivity; hypothalamo-hypophyseal system; pituitary-adrenal system; infant; neurobiology; psychotherapy.

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