Abstract

Background

Non-marital romantic relationship breakups (RRBs) frequently occur among university students. These RRBs constitute stressful events but are conventionally not thought of as traumatic. Current research on RRBs has mainly focused on their association with grief and depression.

Aim

Using attachment theory, we argue that reframing RRBs as potentially traumatic events that can result in posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) is scientifically justifiable, and that further investigation of the relationship of RRBs to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) phenomenology and pathobiology is warranted.

Methods

To inform our argument, this narrative review draws on the theoretical approach of attachment theory and its nexus with neuroscience.

Results

Individuals who experience RRBs report a range of negative psychological consequences including severe distress. RRBs remain one of the primary reasons that university students seek campus counseling services. Among university students, relationship problems also have a strong association with completed suicide. Additionally, functional neuroimaging (fMRI) studies document brain changes in the amygdala and hippocampus in individuals with RRBs (brain changes that are also implicated in PTSD). Lastly, the controversy and debate around what constitutes a traumatic event, especially in terms of Criterion A for a PTSD diagnosis according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition (DSM-5), remains prevalent.

Conclusion

Reframing RRBs as possible traumatic events may open the door to treatments that are currently effective for PTSD. Further research on RRBs needs to be holistic within an attachment-neural-behavioral system framework to better understand how RRBs can induce long-lasting negative effects.

中文翻译：

---

重新构建大学生浪漫关系破裂的依恋理论方法：对依恋、神经回路和创伤后应激症状的叙述性回顾

摘要

背景

非婚恋关系破裂（RRBs）经常发生在大学生中。这些 RRB 构成压力事件，但通常不被认为是创伤性事件。目前对 RRBs 的研究主要集中在它们与悲伤和抑郁的关系上。

目标

使用依恋理论，我们认为将 RRB 重新定义为可能导致创伤后应激症状 (PTSS) 的潜在创伤事件在科学上是合理的，并且有必要进一步研究 RRB 与创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) 现象学和病理生物学的关系。

方法

为了说明我们的论点，这篇叙述性评论借鉴了依恋理论的理论方法及其与神经科学的联系。

结果

经历过 RRB 的人报告了一系列负面的心理后果，包括严重的痛苦。RRB 仍然是大学生寻求校园咨询服务的主要原因之一。在大学生中，人际关系问题也与完成自杀密切相关。此外，功能性神经影像学 (fMRI) 研究记录了 RRB 患者杏仁核和海马的大脑变化（也与 PTSD 相关的大脑变化）。最后，围绕什么构成创伤性事件的争论和辩论，特别是根据诊断和统计手册第 5 版 (DSM-5) 的 PTSD 诊断标准 A，仍然很普遍。

结论

将 RRB 重新定义为可能的创伤事件可能会为目前对 PTSD 有效的治疗打开大门。对 RRB 的进一步研究需要在依恋 - 神经 - 行为系统框架内进行整体研究，以更好地了解 RRB 如何引起长期的负面影响。