Depression, PTSD and alexithymia in victims of intimate partner violence: a case-control study

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) regards millions of women worldwide and can lead to serious psychopathological consequences. Objective: We aimed to evaluate differences between a group of abused women and controls, and potential predictors of depression and PTSD in the IPV group. Methods: We recruited 57 women who experienced IPV and 57 age-matched controls from the general population. After collecting socio-demographic characteristics, we administered the following scales: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Revised-Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2). Results: Our results showed differences between women who experienced IPV and controls in the socioeconomic status, employment and educational levels, childhood abuse and early terminations of pregnancy. Notably, the rates of depression, PTSD, and alexithymia were significantly different between the two groups. Linear regression models revealed that sexual coercion was an independent positive predictor of depressive symptoms, while alexithymia played a role in the development of PTSD in the group of abused women. Discussion: Given the prevalence of depression and PTSD in victims of IPV, it is important to always investigate for IPV in women seeking for help in mental health services. Alexithymia in victims of IPV deserves to be further investigated by researchers.

Women and Violence: Alexithymia, Relational Competence and Styles, and Satisfaction with Life: A Comparative Profile Analysis

“…These experiences could have affected in an intergenerational way their style of interaction with current partners in an intergenerational way [ 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 66 ], hence influencing their SWL [ 67 ]. Moreover, they both show alexithymic impairments with a resulting difficulty identifying and understanding emotions [ 20 , 23 , 26 ].…”

“…To date, few studies have explored alexithymic traits within IVV and IVO and even fewer have focused on women [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. On the one hand, IVV females report higher alexithymic traits and difficulties with affect regulation compared with the general population [ 19 , 20 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. There is still a debate as to whether alexithymia represents either a risk factor for IPV experience [ 20 , 26 ] or a consequence of the traumatic phenomenon in this population, as victims may experience emotional numbness as a consequence of trauma [ 27 , 28 ].…”

“…On the one hand, IVV females report higher alexithymic traits and difficulties with affect regulation compared with the general population [ 19 , 20 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. There is still a debate as to whether alexithymia represents either a risk factor for IPV experience [ 20 , 26 ] or a consequence of the traumatic phenomenon in this population, as victims may experience emotional numbness as a consequence of trauma [ 27 , 28 ]. On the other hand, IVO women with alexithymic traits are more at risk for intimate partner violence [ 21 ].…”

“…On the other hand, IVO women with alexithymic traits are more at risk for intimate partner violence [ 21 ]. Indeed, difficulties in understanding affective states as well as in communicating emotions may lead to relying on maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, which may burst into violent acts to end the negative emotions experienced [ 21 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 29 ].…”

“…Moreover, research suggested that alexithymic traits could be associated with previous adverse relational experiences [ 26 ], such as dysfunctional relational styles of the family of origin and physical and sexual assault [ 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Consequently, parents’ relational competence and parenting styles affect children’s ability to identify and manage emotions [ 30 , 33 ].…”