Alexithymia among long-term drug users: a pilot study in Oporto

Abstract

Increasing scientific evidence supports an association between alexithymia and psychoactive substance use. This study explores alexithymia´s expression in sample of long-term drug users, undergoing outpatient treatment in public health units in Oporto, Portugal, as well as its´ association with social demographic risk factors. Data was collected from a sample of 90 adults, participants, mainly men (n=90; 87%), considered to be old consumers (81% with a age>40 years), with a mean age of 46.1 years (SD=8.3; range=21–64).Two instruments were used: a sociodemographic questionnaire and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). More than 51.1% of the individuals were alexithymic, indicating a high prevalence of deficits in emotional awareness. The treatment period varied from 0 to 15 years, included a medication in 55% of cases, mostly methadone (83%). This profile illustrates the gradual aging of the long-term users of illicit drugs and alcohol with a clear diagnosis of an emotional disorder. Therefore, clinicians who develop treatment strategies may want to take into account the likelihood that many of their patients may be alexithymic; in being so, they should integrate specific psychotherapeutic techniques that promote both the identification and the differentiation in emotionally dysfunctional patients.

Role of Alexithymia and Self-Concealment in Predicting Readiness to Change Among Patients with Substance Use Disorders

“…A previous study on alexithymia amongst long-term drug users found elevated rates of the condition in their subjects, suggesting a high incidence of emotional awareness deficits that impede the growth of institutional and familial support networks with significant ramifications for developing social integration plans (at the work and family levels) that safeguard quality of life. (Souto, Alves, Conde, Pinto, & Ribeiro, 2019). These drawbacks affect patients' readiness to change their addictive state and complicate the situations.…”

“…As a result, they must incorporate particular psychotherapeutic techniques that encourage both the recognition and the variation in emotionally dysfunctional patients. (Souto, Alves, Conde, Pinto, & Ribeiro, 2019). This effort may have a great effect on increasing patients' readiness to change and heighten their motivation for treatment.…”