title: Is alexithymia a negative factor for maintaining abstinence? A follow-up study.
abstract: The prevalence of alexithymia in 46 inpatients with alcohol abuse or dependence was 67.4%. Pretreatment characteristics predicting outcome at 15 months were determined. At the 15-month time point, 67.4% of patients met criteria for abuse or alcohol dependence and 32.6% were abstinent. In patients who relapsed, the total score for the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the score for the TAS-20-feelings factor were significantly higher than in subjects who were abstinent, even when depressive symptoms were taken into account. Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that the TAS-20-feelings factor significantly predicted abstinence. The results may suggest that alexithymia predicted poor outcome in alcoholic inpatients.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Psychiatry, Pinel's Hospital, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loas
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fremaux
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Otmani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lecercle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delahousse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D010555:Personality Inventory; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome