Alexithymia and personality dimensions in relation to depression and anxiety in male alcohol-dependent inpatients

Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of alexithymia and temperament and character model of personality with depression and anxiety symptoms in detoxified male alcohol-dependent inpatients. Method. The subjects consisted of 176 male alcohol-dependent inpatients according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition. Patients were investigated with the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Results. MAST score and scores of all three factors of the TAS-20 significantly predicted depression scale and anxiety scales. Difficulty in identifying feelings and difficulty in describing feelings factors were particularly effective, relative to the externally orientated thinking factor of the TAS-20 for prediction depression and anxiety. The TCI dimensions emerged as distinct and conceptually meaningful predictors for the depression scale and anxiety scales. Conclusion. Depression and anxiety symptoms among detoxified male alcohol dependents are associated with alexithymia, a broad range of personality dimensions and higher severity of alcohol-related problems, which make these related factors highly relevant for clinical practice.

Body image, self-esteem and social anxiety levels in individuals with alcohol and substance abuse

“…In a study on 176 male alcohol addicts who were hospitalized for treatment, there was a significant relationship between social anxiety and alexithymia levels [23]. As demonstrated in previous studies, our study supports the high comorbidity level between alcohol and substance abuse and social anxiety.…”

“…40.0% of the subjects with alcohol and drug addiction were between the ages of 17-24, 31.4% is 25-32, and 28.6% were over the age of 33. 20.0% of the control group was between the ages of [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]48.6% between the ages of 25-32, and 31.4% was over the age of 33. 31,4% of the addicts were married, 62,9% were single and 5,7% were widowed/ divorced.…”

Personality in patients with substance use disorders according to the co-occurring severe mental illness: A study using the alternative five factor model

“…Patients with MDD + presented high levels of Neuroticism (Boschloo et al, 2013) and Harm Avoidance, and low levels of Self-directedness and Cooperation, which were related to greater dysphoria (Rosenström et al, 2014), worse emotional intelligence (Hansenne & Bianchi, 2009) and severe depressive symptomatology (Evren, Evren, & Dalbudak, 2009).…”

Childhood Trauma and Psychopathology among Alcohol-Dependent Men: No Interaction with Temperament and Character

“…Nevertheless, excessive psychiatric comorbidity regardless of the main diagnosis has been documented in populations who reported childhood abuse and neglect [43] . An earlier study on alcohol-dependent men documented that there were significant relationships between various dimensions of psychopathology and several characterological/temperamental features except persistence and self-directedness [44] . Thus, whereas temperamental and characterological features may play a role in facilitation of psychopathology, these effects seem to occur separately from those caused by childhood trauma and/or neglect.…”