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Kick L, Schleicher D, Ecker A, Kandsperger S, Brunner R, Jarvers I. Alexithymia as a mediator between adverse childhood events and the development of psychopathology: a meta-analysis. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1412229. [PMID: 39011338 PMCID: PMC11246998 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1412229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Victims of child abuse have an elevated risk of developing mental health issues later in life. Several variables have been suggested as mediators of this correlation, but little is known about the possible influence of alexithymia. Alexithymia is a sub-clinical personality trait that manifests as difficulties recognizing and verbalizing emotions. Methods In this study, two separate meta-analyses were conducted using questionnaire data, and Pearson correlations for overall effects were estimated. Results The correlation between child abuse and alexithymia showed to be significant (r = .26), as did the correlation between alexithymia and general psychopathology (r = .44). Further analyses revealed no indication for possible publication bias. When investigating differences between various subtypes of child maltreatment, each subtype significantly correlated with alexithymia. Emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect had stronger correlations than physical and sexual abuse. Discussion These results suggest that alexithymia plays a mediating role, at least in part, in the relationship between experiences of child abuse and general psychopathology in adulthood. Therefore, alexithymia may be relevant to further research and deserves attention in the prevention of and therapy for mental health issues in victims of child abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Kick
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Schleicher
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Angelika Ecker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Kandsperger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Romuald Brunner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Irina Jarvers
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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González-Roz A, Castaño Y, Krotter A, Salazar-Cedillo A, Gervilla E. Emotional dysregulation in relation to substance use and behavioral addictions: Findings from five separate meta-analyses. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2024; 24:100502. [PMID: 39308782 PMCID: PMC11416520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2024.100502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/objective Emotional dysregulation (ED) is a transdiagnostic variable underlying various psychiatric disorders, including addictive behaviors (ABs). This meta-analysis examines the relationship between ED and ABs (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, gambling, and gaming), and indicators of AB engagement (frequency, quantity/time of use, severity, and problems). Method Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, WoS, and PsycINFO. Five separate meta-analysis were run using random-effects models. Moderators (age, sex, continental region, and sample type; community vs. clinical), and publication bias were evaluated. Results A total of 189 studies (N = 78,733; 51.29 % women) were identified. ED was significantly related to all ABs. Problems and severity indicators exhibited the largest effects (r's .118-.372, all p <.023). There were larger effect sizes for cannabis problems (r = .372), cannabis severity (r = .280), gaming severity (r = .280), gambling severity (r = .245), gambling problems (r = .131), alcohol problems (r = .237), alcohol severity (r = .204), and severity of nicotine dependence (r = .118). Lack of impulse control exhibited some of the largest effects in relation to ABs. Clinical samples of cannabis users vs. community-based exhibited larger magnitude of associations. Conclusions Interventions targeting ABs should address lack of strategies and impulsive behaviors as an emotion regulation strategy specifically, as it is a common risk factor for ABs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba González-Roz
- Addictive Behaviors Research Group (GCA), Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Yasmina Castaño
- Data Analysis Research Team (GRAD), Department of Psychology, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra Valldemossa, km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Spain
| | - Andrea Krotter
- Addictive Behaviors Research Group (GCA), Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Angie Salazar-Cedillo
- Data Analysis Research Team (GRAD), Department of Psychology, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra Valldemossa, km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Spain
| | - Elena Gervilla
- Data Analysis Research Team (GRAD), Department of Psychology, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra Valldemossa, km 7.5, 07122, Palma, Spain
- Statistical and Psychometric Procedures Applied in Health Science, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Cra Valldemossa, 79, Son Espases University Hospital, 07120, Palma, Spain
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Kurihara K, Enoki H, Shinzato H, Takaesu Y, Kondo T. Cluster analysis of patients with alcohol use disorder featuring alexithymia, depression, and diverse drinking behavior. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 2024. [PMID: 38773706 DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
AIM This study aimed to identify subgroups of alcohol use disorder (AUD) based on a multidimensional combination of alexithymia, depression, and diverse drinking behavior. METHOD We recruited 176 patients with AUD, which were initially divided into non-alexithymic (n = 130) and alexithymic (n = 46) groups using a cutoff score of 61 on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Subsequently, the profiles of the two groups were compared. Thereafter, a two-stage cluster analysis using hierarchical and K-means methods was performed with the Z-scores from the TAS-20, the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report Japanese Version, the 12-item questionnaire for quantitative assessment of depressive mixed state, and the 20-item questionnaire for drinking behavior pattern. RESULTS In the first analysis, Alexithymic patients with AUD showed greater depressive symptoms and more pathological drinking behavior patterns than those without alexithymia. Cluster analysis featuring alexithymia, depression, and drinking behavior identified three subtypes: Cluster 1 (core AUD type) manifesting pathological drinking behavior highlighting automaticity; Cluster 2 (late-onset type) showing relatively late-onset alcohol use and fewer depressive symptoms or pathological drinking behavior; and Cluster 3 (alexithymic type) characterized by alexithymia, depression, and pathological drinking behavior featuring greater coping with negative affect. CONCLUSION The multidimensional model with alexithymia, depression, and diverse drinking behavior provided possible practical classification of AUD. The alexithymic subtype may require more caution, and additional support for negative affect may be necessary due to accompanying mood problems and various maladaptive drinking behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Kurihara
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Enoki
- Major in Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Psychological Sciences, Hiroshima International University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hotaka Shinzato
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Takaesu
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Kondo
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
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Cservenka A, Donahue LC. Emotion Recognition and Self-Reported Emotion Processing in Alcohol and Cannabis Co-Using Young Adults. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:407. [PMID: 38785898 PMCID: PMC11117838 DOI: 10.3390/bs14050407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Alcohol and cannabis use are each associated with impairments in emotion recognition accuracy, which may promote interpersonal problems. It is unclear if emotion recognition or self-reported emotion processing differs between young adult alcohol and cannabis co-users (ACCs) and healthy controls (HCs). This study examined whether ACCs and HCs differed in their emotion recognition across two different behavioral tasks with static or dynamic faces and determined if there were differences in self-reported socio-emotional processing and alexithymia. 22 ACCs (mean age = 21.27 ± 1.75) and 25 HCs (mean age = 21.48 ± 2.68), matched on age, sex, and IQ, completed the Metrisquare Emotion Recognition Task and CANTAB Emotion Recognition Task. The ACCs and HCs were compared on task accuracy and self-reported measures, including the Social Emotional Questionnaire (SEQ) and the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ). No significant main effects of the Group variable or the Emotion-Group interaction variable were present for either task. The ACCs had lower SEQ (p = 0.014) and higher PAQ (p = 0.024) scores relative to the HCs, indicating greater difficulties in socio-emotional processing and identifying one's own emotions, respectively. Understanding the behavioral correlates of the self-reported difficulties in emotion processing reported by ACCs is needed to develop interventions to reduce these symptoms and promote healthy socio-emotional functioning in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Cservenka
- School of Psychological Science, Oregon State University, 2950 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
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Morie KP, Lord KA, Diefenbach GJ, Basuchoudhary O, Lewis S, Assaf M. Subscales of alexithymia show unique pathways through reappraisal and suppression to anxiety, depression and stress. J Affect Disord 2024; 347:445-452. [PMID: 38007105 PMCID: PMC10842914 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.11.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
The goal of this work was to explore associations of constituent factors of alexithymia on mental health and potential mediating effects of emotion regulation strategies, specifically suppression and reappraisal. Data were collected through the crowd-sourcing platform Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTURK). Three hundred seventy-seven individuals completed questionnaires related to distress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales [DASS]), emotion regulation (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire [ERQ]) and Alexithymia (Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire [BVAQ]). Three mediation models were constructed for depression, anxiety and stress, with BVAQ subscales (verbalizing, identifying, emotionalizing, fantasizing, and analyzing) as predictors and ERQ subscales (suppression and reappraisal) as mediators. Results indicated 37.3 % variance in depression, 25.2 % variance in anxiety, and 35.3 % variance in stress was explained by each model. Direct associations revealed emotionalizing and fantasizing were negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress, while verbalizing was additionally associated with depression, identifying was additionally associated with anxiety, and all four BVAQ subscales were associated with stress. BVAQ subscales demonstrated negative associations with reappraisal and positive associations with suppression that mediated anxiety and depression. However, suppression did not mediate relationships between BVAQ subscales with stress. Findings support the importance of examining multiple factors of alexithymia and associations with emotion regulation strategies and distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen P Morie
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - Kayla A Lord
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Anxiety Disorders Center, The Institute of Living, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
| | - Gretchen J Diefenbach
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Anxiety Disorders Center, The Institute of Living, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
| | - Oishani Basuchoudhary
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, The Institute of Living, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
| | - Stephanie Lewis
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, The Institute of Living, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
| | - Michal Assaf
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, The Institute of Living, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
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Knapp KS, Bradizza CM, Zhao J, Linn BK, Wilding GE, LaBarre C, Stasiewicz PR. Emotion differentiation among individuals in a randomized clinical trial for alcohol use disorder: Within- and between-person associations with affect, craving, and alcohol use in daily life. Behav Res Ther 2024; 173:104474. [PMID: 38237447 PMCID: PMC10947467 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Emotion differentiation refers to cognitively distinguishing among discrete, same-valenced emotions. Negative emotion differentiation (NED) is a transdiagnostic indicator of emotional functioning. The role of positive emotion differentiation (PED) in clinical disorders, including alcohol use disorder (AUD), is less understood. Further, despite consensus that emotions are highly variable, little is known about within-person fluctuations in NED/PED. The current study leveraged 84 consecutive daily smartphone surveys from participants (N = 181) in a clinical trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for AUD to investigate whether between-person differences in overall NED/PED, or within-person variability in daily NED/PED, were associated with affect intensity, craving, drinking, and heavy drinking in daily life. Subsequent analyses explored whether associations were moderated by baseline alexithymia. At the between-persons level, greater average PED, but not NED, was associated with lower heavy drinking odds. At the within-persons level, higher-than-usual PED was associated with lower negative affect and odds of any drinking. Individuals with baseline alexithymia had stronger negative within-person associations between daily NED and both any and heavy drinking. PED is a skill linked to less alcohol use between- and within-persons irrespective of baseline alexithymia, whereas greater daily NED appears especially important for reduced alcohol use among individuals with co-morbid AUD and alexithymia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyler S Knapp
- School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, United States.
| | - Clara M Bradizza
- School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, United States
| | - Junru Zhao
- School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, United States
| | - Braden K Linn
- School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, United States
| | - Gregory E Wilding
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, United States
| | - Charles LaBarre
- School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, United States
| | - Paul R Stasiewicz
- School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, United States
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Wiśniewski P, Jakubczyk A, Trucco EM, Kobyliński P, Suszek H, Zaorska J, Rydzewska M, Kopera M. Interoception, alexithymia, and anxiety among individuals with alcohol use disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1229985. [PMID: 37810600 PMCID: PMC10556496 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1229985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Interoception (i.e., the ability to recognize bodily signals), alexithymia (i.e., the inability to recognize emotional states) and negative affect (i.e., unpleasant feelings such as anxiety) have been associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Previous research suggests that interoception may underlie alexithymia, which in turn may be associated with negative affectivity. However, this remains to be empirically tested. This study investigates whether alexithymia mediates the association between interoception and anxiety and whether this association differs across individuals with AUD and a healthy control (HC) comparison group. Methods The AUD group consisted of 99 participants enrolled in an 8-week abstinence-based inpatient treatment program. The HC group included 103 healthy individuals. The heartbeat counting task (HCT) was used to assess interoception (cardiac interoceptive accuracy). The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was used to assess alexithymia. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) was used to assess anxiety. Results The moderated mediation model with interoception as the predictor, alexithymia as the mediator, and negative affect (i.e., state anxiety) as the dependent variable was tested. The analysis showed that the conditional indirect effect of interoception on anxiety via alexithymia was significant for individuals with AUD [ab = -0.300, bootstrap 95% CI = (-0.618, -0.088)], as well as for HCs [ab = -0.088, bootstrap 95% CI = (-0.195, -0.014)]; however, the conditional indirect effect significantly differed across HCs and individuals with AUD. Namely, the mediated effect was greater among individuals with AUD compared to the HC group. Conclusion The results suggests that interoceptive impairment contributes to greater negative affect (i.e., state anxiety) via alexithymia especially for individuals with AUD. Improving emotion recognition via therapeutic methods focused on strengthening interoceptive abilities could improve outcomes for individuals receiving treatment for AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Wiśniewski
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Jakubczyk
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elisa M. Trucco
- Department of Psychology, Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Addiction Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Paweł Kobyliński
- Laboratory of Interactive Technologies, National Information Processing Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hubert Suszek
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Zaorska
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Maciej Kopera
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Zaorska J, Rydzewska M, Kopera M, Wiśniewski P, Trucco EM, Kobyliński P, Jakubczyk A. Distress tolerance and emotional regulation in individuals with alcohol use disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1175664. [PMID: 37252141 PMCID: PMC10213258 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1175664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previous research suggests that low distress tolerance may be associated with poor emotion regulation, contribute to drinking to cope motives, and predict alcohol-related problems in non-clinical populations. However, little is known about the ability to tolerate distress among individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and its association with emotional dysregulation. The aim of this study was to examine the link between emotional dysregulation and a behavioral measure of distress tolerance among individuals with AUD. Methods The sample consisted of 227 individuals with AUD enrolled in an 8-week abstinence-based inpatient treatment program. Behavioral distress tolerance was assessed using a test of ischemic pain tolerance and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) was used to assess emotion dysregulation. Results Distress tolerance was significantly associated with emotional dysregulation even when accounting for alexithymia, depressive symptomatology, age, and biological sex. Conclusion The current study provides preliminary support for an association between low distress tolerance and emotion dysregulation in a clinical group of patients with AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Zaorska
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Maciej Kopera
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Wiśniewski
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elisa M. Trucco
- Department of Psychology, Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Addiction Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Paweł Kobyliński
- Laboratory of Interactive Technologies, National Information Processing Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Jakubczyk
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Salles BM, Maturana de Souza W, Dos Santos VA, Mograbi DC. Effects of DBT-based interventions on alexithymia: a systematic review. Cogn Behav Ther 2023; 52:110-131. [PMID: 36426727 DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2022.2117734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
While dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) appears effective for some psychiatric conditions commonly associated with alexithymia, it is unclear whether DBT improves difficulties experienced by alexithymic individuals. This review investigated the current evidence on the effectiveness of DBT-based interventions in improving alexithymia. A qualitative synthesis of studies that investigated the efficacy of DBT on self-reported alexithymia was performed, identifying eligible studies using EBSCO/Essentials, Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and PsychINFO databases. Eight studies were identified. Overall, the results were inconclusive due to the heterogeneity of the studies but suggest that DBT-based interventions may be associated with self-reported decreases in alexithymia and increases in the ability to identify emotional states. The literature is limited by significant methodological problems, such as the low number of controlled trials, small samples, and high variability between DBT programs, which increases the risk of bias across study outcomes. More research is needed to reach conclusions regarding the effectiveness of DBT in improving alexithymia. Future studies should conduct randomized controlled trial designs (primarily with active treatment control conditions), greater standardization of DBT-based interventions, and a more in-depth examination of the level of participant involvement in long-term DBT-based interventions may help to understand whether DBT improves alexithymia difficulties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno M Salles
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wayson Maturana de Souza
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Veruska Andrea Dos Santos
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniel C Mograbi
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Pepe M, Di Nicola M, Panaccione I, Franza R, De Berardis D, Cibin M, Janiri L, Sani G. Impulsivity and alexithymia predict early versus subsequent relapse in patients with alcohol use disorder: A 1-year longitudinal study. Drug Alcohol Rev 2023; 42:367-372. [PMID: 36269103 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Longitudinal psychopathological predictors of relapse in alcohol use disorder are unclear. METHODS Relapses, sociodemographic and psychopathological risk factors were assessed in 171 alcohol use disorder outpatients within a 1-year follow up. Impulsivity and alexithymia were evaluated using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, respectively. RESULTS At endpoint, 39% of patients maintained abstinence, 30.9% relapsed at ≤1 month from detoxification (early), 30.1% at >1 month (subsequent). Baseline Barratt Impulsiveness Scale score was predictive of early versus subsequent relapse (odds ratio 1.12, p = 0.005) and versus abstinence (odds ratio 1.17, p < 0.001). Toronto Alexithymia Scale score was a risk factor for subsequent versus early relapse (odds ratio 1.13, p = 0.003) and versus abstinence (odds ratio 1.21, p < 0.001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Impulsivity predicted relapse within the first 4-weeks; alexithymia showed delayed effects. Time-varying effects of specific relapse factors emphasise the need for preliminary careful assessment and personalised interventions to promote long-term abstinence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pepe
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Di Nicola
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Raffaella Franza
- Service of Clinical Psychology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico De Berardis
- Department of Mental Health Psychiatric Service, Diagnosis and Treatment Hospital Giuseppe Mazzini, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Janiri
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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11
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Sutherland BD, Fallah-Sohy N, Kopera M, Jakubczyk A, Sutherland MT, Trucco EM. Alexithymia mediates the association between childhood trauma and adolescent E-cigarette use. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 236:109500. [PMID: 35623159 PMCID: PMC9384700 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent electronic cigarette use (e-cigarette) is a public health concern and factors associated with vaping remain to be understood. Childhood emotional abuse/neglect is a risk factor for e-cigarettes. Yet, pathways by which trauma impacts use remain unclear. Alexithymia (i.e., difficulties identifying and describing feelings) is one possible link. Indeed, emotional abuse/neglect leads to difficulties identifying and verbalizing emotions. This impairment may lead to distress and promote e-cigarette use as a coping strategy. METHODS Using parallel mediation, this study examined the degree to which alexithymia, assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, mediates the link between emotional abuse/neglect, assessed using the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen, and e-cigarette use. The sample (n = 166) consisted of adolescents from a larger multi-wave study. RESULTS Emotional abuse/neglect predicted difficulty describing feelings (effect = 0.23, p = 0.001), which in turn predicted e-cigarette use (effect = 0.30, p = 0.004). Moreover, difficulty describing feelings mediated the link between emotional abuse/neglect and e-cigarette use (sum of indirect 95% CI [1.68, 16.48]). Difficulty identifying feelings was not a significant mediator and the externally-oriented thinking subscale was excluded due to low reliability. CONCLUSIONS As e-cigarettes are often used in social contexts, teens who experience difficulty describing feelings may vape as a means of connecting emotionally with others. Moreover, nicotine, found in most e-cigarettes, releases dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain modulating action, learning, and memory processes; plausibly, improving verbalization of emotions. Programming which identifies nuances in alexithymia among adolescents with emotional abuse/neglect could mitigate e-cigarette use or delay initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjelene D. Sutherland
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University;,Center for Children and Families, Florida International University;,Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI); Florida International University
| | - Nilofar Fallah-Sohy
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University;,Center for Children and Families, Florida International University;,Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI); Florida International University
| | - Maciej Kopera
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw
| | | | - Matthew T. Sutherland
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University;,Center for Children and Families, Florida International University;,Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI); Florida International University
| | - Elisa M. Trucco
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University;,Center for Children and Families, Florida International University;,Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI); Florida International University;,Addiction Center, University of Michigan;,Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan
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