Traumatic experiences, alexithymia, and posttraumatic symptomatology: a cross-sectional population-based study in Germany

Abstract

ObjectivePrevious studies have established an association between number of traumatic experiences and alexithymia. The present study examines this relationship in a large-scale representative sample of the German general population (N=2,507) and explores the potential mediating effects of posttraumatic symptomatology, particularly avoidance/numbing.MethodsAlexithymia was assessed with the German version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Posttraumatic symptomatology was operationalized by the symptom score of the modified German version of the Posttraumatic Symptom Scale, and traumatic experiences were assessed with the trauma list of the Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Two mediation analyses were conducted.ResultsOf the total sample, 24.2% (n=606) reported at least one traumatic experience, 10.6% (n=258) were classified as alexithymic, and 2.4% (n=59) fulfilled the criteria of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants who had survived five or more traumatic experiences had significantly higher alexithymia sum scores. The PTSD symptom cluster avoidance/numbing mediated the association between the number of traumatic experiences and alexithymia.ConclusionsOur findings illustrate an association between number of traumatic experiences and alexithymia and the influence of emotional avoidance and numbing within this relationship. The significant relationship between alexithymia and number of traumatic experiences in a general population sample further supports the concept of multiple and complex traumatization as associated with alexithymia. The results suggest the importance of further investigations determining the causal impact of alexithymia both as a potential premorbid trait and as consequence of traumatization. Lastly, future investigations are needed to clarify alexithymia as a distinct trauma-relevant characteristic for better diagnostics and specialized trauma-integrative therapy.

Social and psychological consequences of not crying: possible associations with psychopathology and therapeutic relevance

“…Further evaluation of those who do not or cannot cry by their partners and colleagues is needed with the use of behavioral and implicit measures in addition to self-reports in order to clarify the potential bidirectional associations between an incapacity to cry and different clinical conditions (e.g., PTSD, psychopathy, and depression) and alexithymia (i.e., the inability to understand and express emotion). Alexithymia is also associated with a history of emotional trauma 30 and with somatoform disorders such as non-epileptic seizures (pseudoseizures), which present considerable therapeutic challenges. 30 Finally, future work should assess how the present findings fit into concepts like alexithymia, emotional suppression, and emotional numbness.…”

“…Alexithymia is also associated with a history of emotional trauma 30 and with somatoform disorders such as non-epileptic seizures (pseudoseizures), which present considerable therapeutic challenges. 30 Finally, future work should assess how the present findings fit into concepts like alexithymia, emotional suppression, and emotional numbness. 31…”

Childhood traumatic experiences, alexithymia, and resilience in patients with adjustment disorder

“…In their study of male patients with adjustment disorder, Na et al (16) determined that, compared to the healthy This study showed a positive correlation between the alexithymia levels and traumas experienced in childhood. In their study of German society, Eichhorn et al (17) determined that the more that traumatic experiences of patients increase the more their alexithymia levels increase. The findings of this study demonstrate that therapies for the treatment of traumas can be helpful.…”

“…In the literature, it is also considered one of the factors that plays a role in coping with stress are alexithymic features (16,17). Alexithymia, which is described as the difficulty recognizing and describing emotions and the difficulty distinguishing physical and emotional sensations, reduces the resistance of the individual to stress and limits the capacity of the person to adapt (17,18). Studies have reported alexithymia to be common in psychiatric disorders (19)(20)(21).…”

Relationship of premenstrual and menstrual symptoms to alexithymia among nursing students

“…18,19 In recent studies, alexithymic features have been identified not only in psychiatric disorders but also in the healthy population. 20,21 Son et al 22 note that the prevalence of alexithymia is 10-18% in the general population and 7.6-39.8% in psychiatry outpatients. Studies about alexithymia and its prevalence among university students are relatively limited.…”