Citation

Berenbaum H. J. Psychosom. Res. 1996; 41(6): 585-595.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Champaign 61820, USA. hberenba@s.psych.uiuc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9032722

Abstract

I examined the relationships among childhood abuse, alexithymia, and personality disorder. Participants were 60 adults who were receiving outpatient psychotherapy. Both the participants and their therapists used the Toronto Alexithymia Scale to provide independently information concerning the client's level of alexithymia. The therapists provided information concerning DSM-III-R personality disorder diagnoses, and participants completed portions of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-Revised. Information concerning childhood abuse history was obtained from the therapists. As expected, childhood abuse, alexithymia, and personality disorder were all associated with each other. The abilities to identify and communicate emotions were differentially associated with childhood abuse and personality disorder.

Language: en