TY - JOUR
T1 - Alexithymia in alcohol dependent patients is partially mediated by alcohol expectancy
AU - Thorberg, Fred Arne
AU - Young, Ross McD
AU - Sullivan, Karen A.
AU - Lyvers, Michael
AU - Hurst, Cameron P.
AU - Connor, Jason P.
AU - Feeney, Gerald F X
PY - 2011/7/1
Y1 - 2011/7/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79957625569&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.11.015
DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.11.015
M3 - Article
C2 - 21185660
AN - SCOPUS:79957625569
SN - 0376-8716
VL - 116
SP - 238
EP - 241
JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
IS - 1-3
ER -
