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Avoidance of emotional intimacy

MedGen UID:
1841864
•Concept ID:
C5826980
•
Finding
Synonym: Avoids emotional intimacy
 
HPO: HP:5200111

Definition

An atypically high tendency to avoid interpersonal exchanges characterizing by sharing of personal feelings, expressions of understanding, affirmation, and demonstrations of caring. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVAvoidance of emotional intimacy

Professional guidelines

PubMed

The Psychosocial Burden Associated With and Effective Treatment Approach for Atopic Dermatitis: A Literature Review.
Ghani H, Jamgochian M, Pappert A, Rahman R, Cubeli S
J Drugs Dermatol 2021 Oct 1;20(10):1046-1050. doi: 10.36849/JDD.6328. PMID: 34636512
Development of an explanatory model of sexual intimacy following treatment for localised prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative evidence.
Tucker SR, Speer SA, Peters S
Soc Sci Med 2016 Aug;163:80-8. Epub 2016 Jul 4 doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.001. PMID: 27421074
Implications of long-term outcome research for the management of patients with borderline personality disorder.
Paris J
Harv Rev Psychiatry 2002 Nov-Dec;10(6):315-23. doi: 10.1080/10673220216229. PMID: 12485978

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Scoping review of the association between bacterial vaginosis and emotional, sexual and social health.
Brusselmans J, De Sutter A, Devleesschauwer B, Verstraelen H, Cools P
BMC Womens Health 2023 Apr 7;23(1):168. doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02260-z. PMID: 37029382Free PMC Article
The Effectiveness of EMOVERE: An Emotional Education Program for Young Couples.
Mónaco E, de la Barrera U, Montoya-Castilla I
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Feb 9;18(4) doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041677. PMID: 33572448Free PMC Article
Transformation of intimacy and its impact in developing countries.
Muniruzzaman MD
Life Sci Soc Policy 2017 Dec;13(1):10. Epub 2017 Aug 1 doi: 10.1186/s40504-017-0056-8. PMID: 28766186Free PMC Article
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Intimate Partner Violence, and Relationship Functioning: A Meta-Analytic Review.
Birkley EL, Eckhardt CI, Dykstra RE
J Trauma Stress 2016 Oct;29(5):397-405. Epub 2016 Sep 19 doi: 10.1002/jts.22129. PMID: 27644053
Processing of intimacy-related stimuli in survivors of sexual trauma: the role of PTSD.
Martinson AA, Sigmon ST, Craner J, Rothstein E, McGillicuddy M
J Interpers Violence 2013 Jun;28(9):1886-908. Epub 2012 Dec 24 doi: 10.1177/0886260512469104. PMID: 23266991

Diagnosis

Couples communication and cancer: Sequences and trajectories of behavioral affective processes in relation to intimacy.
Leo K, Langer SL, Porter LS, Ramos K, Romano JM, Baucom DH, Baucom BRW
J Fam Psychol 2024 Mar;38(2):246-259. Epub 2023 Dec 21 doi: 10.1037/fam0001178. PMID: 38127494
The Psychosocial Burden Associated With and Effective Treatment Approach for Atopic Dermatitis: A Literature Review.
Ghani H, Jamgochian M, Pappert A, Rahman R, Cubeli S
J Drugs Dermatol 2021 Oct 1;20(10):1046-1050. doi: 10.36849/JDD.6328. PMID: 34636512
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Intimate Partner Violence, and Relationship Functioning: A Meta-Analytic Review.
Birkley EL, Eckhardt CI, Dykstra RE
J Trauma Stress 2016 Oct;29(5):397-405. Epub 2016 Sep 19 doi: 10.1002/jts.22129. PMID: 27644053
Correlates of female sexual functioning: adult attachment and differentiation of self.
Burri A, Schweitzer R, O'Brien J
J Sex Med 2014 Sep;11(9):2188-95. Epub 2014 Apr 25 doi: 10.1111/jsm.12561. PMID: 24762123
Processing of intimacy-related stimuli in survivors of sexual trauma: the role of PTSD.
Martinson AA, Sigmon ST, Craner J, Rothstein E, McGillicuddy M
J Interpers Violence 2013 Jun;28(9):1886-908. Epub 2012 Dec 24 doi: 10.1177/0886260512469104. PMID: 23266991

Therapy

Sociodemographic and psychological characteristics influencing patients' willingness to participate in clinical trials.
Gouveia R, Cruz VT, Almeida L
BMJ Open Qual 2022 Oct;11(4) doi: 10.1136/bmjoq-2022-002044. PMID: 36316063Free PMC Article
The Effectiveness of EMOVERE: An Emotional Education Program for Young Couples.
Mónaco E, de la Barrera U, Montoya-Castilla I
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Feb 9;18(4) doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041677. PMID: 33572448Free PMC Article
Internal Working Models of Attachment Relationships and HIV Outcomes Among Women Living With HIV.
Turan B, Crockett KB, Kempf MC, Konkle-Parker D, Wilson TE, Tien PC, Wingood G, Neilands TB, Johnson MO, Weiser SD, Turan JM
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2019 Jan 1;80(1):e1-e8. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001872. PMID: 30272629Free PMC Article
The role of attachment style in interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.
Gunlicks-Stoessel M, Westervelt A, Reigstad K, Mufson L, Lee S
Psychother Res 2019 Jan;29(1):78-85. Epub 2017 Apr 24 doi: 10.1080/10503307.2017.1315465. PMID: 28436756Free PMC Article
Models of intimacy of securely and avoidantly attached young adults: a narrative approach.
Dekel S, Farber BA
J Nerv Ment Dis 2012 Feb;200(2):156-62. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e3182439702. PMID: 22297314

Prognosis

Sexual expression and the COVID-19 pandemic: The future of sexual intimacy after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mourikis I
Psychiatriki 2023 Jul 19;34(2):99-101. Epub 2023 May 12 doi: 10.22365/jpsych.2023.009. PMID: 37212801
PTSD Symptom Cluster Severity Predicts Momentary Emotion Dynamics During Couple Conversations.
Fredman SJ, Fischer MS, Baucom DH, Le Y, Taverna EC, Chow SM, Ram N, Marshall AD
Behav Ther 2023 Mar;54(2):330-345. Epub 2022 Oct 14 doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2022.09.004. PMID: 36858763Free PMC Article
Differential effects of maternal- and paternal-adolescent attachments on friendship security and intimacy.
Persram RJ, Konishi C
Br J Dev Psychol 2023 Mar;41(1):66-78. Epub 2022 Sep 23 doi: 10.1111/bjdp.12433. PMID: 36148932
The role of attachment style in interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.
Gunlicks-Stoessel M, Westervelt A, Reigstad K, Mufson L, Lee S
Psychother Res 2019 Jan;29(1):78-85. Epub 2017 Apr 24 doi: 10.1080/10503307.2017.1315465. PMID: 28436756Free PMC Article
Development and initial validation of a measure of attachment security in late adulthood.
Lopez FG, Ramos K, Kim M
Psychol Assess 2018 Sep;30(9):1214-1225. Epub 2018 May 10 doi: 10.1037/pas0000568. PMID: 29745685

Clinical prediction guides

PTSD Symptom Cluster Severity Predicts Momentary Emotion Dynamics During Couple Conversations.
Fredman SJ, Fischer MS, Baucom DH, Le Y, Taverna EC, Chow SM, Ram N, Marshall AD
Behav Ther 2023 Mar;54(2):330-345. Epub 2022 Oct 14 doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2022.09.004. PMID: 36858763Free PMC Article
Differential effects of maternal- and paternal-adolescent attachments on friendship security and intimacy.
Persram RJ, Konishi C
Br J Dev Psychol 2023 Mar;41(1):66-78. Epub 2022 Sep 23 doi: 10.1111/bjdp.12433. PMID: 36148932
Sociodemographic and psychological characteristics influencing patients' willingness to participate in clinical trials.
Gouveia R, Cruz VT, Almeida L
BMJ Open Qual 2022 Oct;11(4) doi: 10.1136/bmjoq-2022-002044. PMID: 36316063Free PMC Article
The role of attachment style in interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents.
Gunlicks-Stoessel M, Westervelt A, Reigstad K, Mufson L, Lee S
Psychother Res 2019 Jan;29(1):78-85. Epub 2017 Apr 24 doi: 10.1080/10503307.2017.1315465. PMID: 28436756Free PMC Article
Development and initial validation of a measure of attachment security in late adulthood.
Lopez FG, Ramos K, Kim M
Psychol Assess 2018 Sep;30(9):1214-1225. Epub 2018 May 10 doi: 10.1037/pas0000568. PMID: 29745685

Recent systematic reviews

Development of an explanatory model of sexual intimacy following treatment for localised prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative evidence.
Tucker SR, Speer SA, Peters S
Soc Sci Med 2016 Aug;163:80-8. Epub 2016 Jul 4 doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.001. PMID: 27421074

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