title: Alexithymia in alcohol dependent patients is partially mediated by alcohol expectancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Up to fifty percent of alcohol dependent individuals have alexithymia, a personality trait characterised by difficulties identifying and describing feelings, a lack of imagination and an externalised cognitive style. Although studies have examined alexithymia in relation to alcohol dependence, no research exists on mechanisms underlying this relationship. The present study examined the mediational effect of alcohol expectancies on alexithymia and alcohol dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  230 outpatients completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Drinking Expectancy Questionnaire (DEQ) and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analysis showed that alexithymia and alcohol dependence was, in two of three cases, partially mediated through alcohol expectancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol expectancies of assertion and affective change show promise as mediators of alcohol dependence in individuals with alexithymia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. f.thorberg@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Fred Arne
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Thorberg
authors.forename: Ross McD
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lyvers
authors.forename: Cameron P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hurst
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: Gerald F X
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Feeney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires