Interrelation of Alexithymia and Affective and Personal Properties in Persons Dependent on Alcohol

Objective: to define interrelation of alexithymia and affective and personal properties in persons dependent on alcohol. Material and methods. 41 patients with alcohol dependence syndrome were under observation. The method of complex medical rehabilitation was applied during work with patients with alcohol dependence syndrome and disturbance of mood. The following techniques were used: the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20); the Hospital scale of anxiety and a depression (HADS); the Beck Hopelessness Scale; the Existence Scale by A. Längle; the Level of Subjective Control (LSC); the Scale of diagnostics of frustration of a bipolar range (BSDS). Results. Alexithymia in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome is directly interconnected with anxiety as per the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, with the Beck Hopelessness Scale (R = 0.55; p = 0.02), which shows growing self-dissociation in alcohol dependent persons, reveals interrelations of all the alexithymia scales with the subscales of the Existence Scale technique, indicates a direct link of the Beck Hopelessness Scale with the subscales of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (R = 0.56; p = 0.022) and “externally focused thinking” (R = 0.57; p = 0.02). Thus, expressed negative attitude of dependent persons to their own future is directly connected with inability to identify their own feelings. Conclusion. Alcohol dependent persons reveal a high rate of alexithymia, which has interrelations with anxiety, depression, existential sensibleness, level of subjective control. Application of complex medical rehabilitation is effective in respect of decreasing the alexithymia rate and affective disorders, increasing consciousness and self-expression of feelings in persons dependent on alcohol.

alexithymia, affective and personal properties, alcohol dependence, depression, complex medical rehabilitation

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