Is alexithymia a typical characteristic of addictive behaviours in adolescents and young adults?

Author(s): Bolognini, M., Plancherel, B., Stephan, P., Halfon, O.

Journal/Book: Swiss J Psychology. 1998; 57: Langgass-Strasse 76, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland. Verlag Hans Huber. 145-152.

Abstract: Previous studies have suggested that alexithymia is a risk factor for addictive behaviours such as drug abuse or eating disorders. The aim of the present study was to examine this link when other possible confounding factors are taken into account. Data were analysed from a multicentre project on addictive behaviours undertaken in France and Switzerland. The Swiss survey included two groups of adolescents and young adults (14-25 years, M = 20.5, SD = 3): a group of 187 clinical subjects diagnosed on the basis of a structured interview using DSM-IV criteria, 80 girls with eating disorders, 107 subjects with drug abuse (73 males and 34 females), and a group of 121 control subjects (49 males and 72 females), marched for age, gender and socio-economic status (SES). All subjects completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13) and provided socio-demographic data. Alexithymia was correlated significantly with depressive mood (higher scores in the two clinical groups), age (higher scores in younger adolescents) and SES (higher scores in the low social class group). When controlling for depressive mood no significant differences were found between girls with eating disorders or the drug abuse group and the control group. Thus, according to these results, alexithymia does not seem to be a specific, unconfounded risk factor for addictive behaviours.

Note: Article Bolognini M, Univ Lausanne, Res Unit, Psychiat Out Clin Children & Adolescents, Supea, Bugnon 25 A, CH-1005 Lausanne, SWITZERLAND

Keyword(s): alexithymia; addiction; drug abuse; eating disorders; depressive mood adolescence; young adults; PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE; PSYCHOSOMATIC PATIENTS; EATING DISORDERS; SCALE; DEPRESSION; VALIDITY; PREVALENCE; CONSTRUCT; NERVOSA; WOMEN

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