Relationship of alexithymia and temperament and character dimensions with lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder in male alcohol-dependent inpatients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in male alcohol-dependent inpatients and to investigate the relationship of PTSD with alexithymia and temperament and character dimensions.


METHODS
Participants were 156 consecutively admitted male alcohol-dependent subjects. Patients were investigated using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).


RESULTS
Among alcohol-dependent inpatients 32.1% were considered as having lifetime PTSD. Mean scores of alexithymia, novelty seeking (NS), harm avoidance (HA) and self-transcendence (ST) were higher in the PTSD group, whereas age and self-directedness (S) were lower. Among age and other factors of TAS-20, 'difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF)' predicted PTSD in a logistic regression model. When age and personality dimensions of TCI were taken as independent variables, S predicted PTSD in the logistic regression model. Finally, among subscales of TCI, 'impulsiveness versus reflection' (NS2) and 'congruent second nature versus bad habits' (S5) predicted PTSD.


CONCLUSIONS
Alexithymia and personality traits, particularly high DIF and S scores are related with lifetime PTSD diagnosis, even when controlling for age among alcohol-dependent inpatients. Causal relationships between alexithymia, personality dimensions and PTSD, and their implications on treatment are not clear and should be evaluated in longitudinal studies.
Bakirkoy State Hospital for Mental Health and Neurological Disorders, Alcohol and Drug Research, Treatment and Training Center (AMATEM), Istanbul, Turkey. cuneytevren@yahoo.com
Cuneyt
C
Evren
Ercan
E
Dalbudak
Rabia
R
Cetin
Mine
M
Durkaya
Bilge
B
Evren
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D002605:Character; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013694:Temperament