Alexithymia, craving and attachment in a heavy drinking population


Autoria(s): Thorberg, Fred Arne; Young, Ross McD.; Sullivan, Karen A.; Lyvers, Michael; Connor, Jason P.; Feeney, Gerald F.X.
Data(s)

01/04/2011

Resumo

Up to fifty per cent of individuals with Alcohol use disorders (AUD) also have alexithymia a personality construct hypothesized to be related to attachment difficulties. The relationship between alexithymia, craving, anxious attachment and alcohol-dependence severity was examined in 254 patients participating in a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) program for alcohol-dependence. Participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS), the Revised Adult Attachment Anxiety Subscale (RAAS-Anxiety) and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). MANOVA indicated that individuals with alexithymia reported significantly higher levels of total OCDS, obsessive thoughts about alcohol, and compulsive drinking urges and behavior, compared to the non-alexithymic group. Regression analyses found that anxious attachment partially mediated the relationship between alexithymia and craving. Anxious attachment may be a potential treatment target to reduce alcohol consumption in those with alcohol-dependence and alexithymia. Research Highlights ► There were significant relationships of alexithymia, craving and anxious attachment. ► Alexithymic alcoholics reported higher levels of craving and alcoholism severity. ► Anxious attachment partially mediated the relationship of alexithymia and craving.

Formato

application/pdf

Identificador

http://eprints.qut.edu.au/40576/

Publicador

Pergamon Elsevier

Relação

http://eprints.qut.edu.au/40576/1/c40576.pdf

DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2010.12.016

Thorberg, Fred Arne, Young, Ross McD., Sullivan, Karen A., Lyvers, Michael, Connor, Jason P., & Feeney, Gerald F.X. (2011) Alexithymia, craving and attachment in a heavy drinking population. Addictive Behaviours, 36(4), pp. 427-430.

Direitos

Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.

Fonte

Faculty of Health; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation; School of Psychology & Counselling

Palavras-Chave #170100 PSYCHOLOGY #Alexithymia #Craving #Attachment #Alcohol-Dependence
Tipo

Journal Article