SBT1 is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood and its incidence is increasing. Metabolically dysregulated SBT1 can lead to many acute and chronic complications which significantly reduce the quality of life of an individual with this disease. The goal of SBT1 treatment is good metabolic control the indicator of which is the level of HbA1c in the blood. It is influenced by many biopsychosocial factors. Research shows that the attachment style in an individual affects how he behaves during illness. In addition, the attachment style is associated with the body's response to stress. The mechanism of action of the stress axis (HPA axis) is important in the pathogenesis of many diseases and represents the essence of the biopsychosocial model of disease emergence. We hypothesized that the attachment style could play a role in metabolic regulation and physical response to stress in children and adolescents with SBT1. 101 children and adolescents with SBT1 and their parents were included in the research. The Child Attachment Interview (CAI) was used to assess the attachment. The HbA1c value was used to assess metabolic control in the blood while the stress response was assessed with the synacthen test. The parents filled in a demographic data questionnaire. The results showed no statistically significant differences in average HbA1c and stress reactivity according to individual attachment style. Nevertheless, even small differences in HbA1c can be clinically significant. The observed small differences in HbA1c could be the result of treatment at the level of the health system and the fact that the attachment of the child most likely does not reflect the metabolic regulation of the child in the described age group (11.7 years). During this period, their parents have the greatest responsibility for managing the disease. Therefore, it would make sense to also evaluate parental attachment. Low-stress reactivity in individuals with disorganized attachment could be the result of reduced HPA axis activity or changes in the attachment because of SBT1. The peculiarities of treatment at the Division of Paediatrics, the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, and possible directions for further research are presented.
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