Trichotillomania and emotion Regulation: is symptom severity related to alexithymia?
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Trichotillomania and emotion Regulation: is symptom severity related to alexithymia? / Rufer, Michael; Bamert, Tsering; Klaghofer, Richard; Moritz, Steffen; Schilling, Lisa; Weidt, Steffi.
in: PSYCHIAT RES, Jahrgang 218, Nr. 1-2, 15.08.2014, S. 161-165.Publikationen: SCORING: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift/Zeitung › SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz › Forschung › Begutachtung
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Trichotillomania and emotion Regulation: is symptom severity related to alexithymia?
AU - Rufer, Michael
AU - Bamert, Tsering
AU - Klaghofer, Richard
AU - Moritz, Steffen
AU - Schilling, Lisa
AU - Weidt, Steffi
N1 - Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/8/15
Y1 - 2014/8/15
N2 - Previous research on trichotillomania (TTM) has demonstrated an emotion regulation function of hair pulling behavior. One condition that can impede the regulation of emotions is alexithymia. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between the degree of alexithymia and the severity of hair pulling behavior in individuals with TTM. Multiple strategies were used to recruit a sample of 105 participants via the internet. All participants were diagnosed with TTM by an experienced clinician via a subsequent phone-interview. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to test the potential predictive value of the different facets of alexithymia (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale) on the severity of TTM (Massachusetts General Hospital Hair-Pulling Scale). Both the difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF) facet of alexithymia (p=0.045) and depression (p=0.049) were significant predictors of the severity of TTM. In conclusion, alexithymia seems to play a role in hair pulling behavior in individuals with TTM. However, the significant association was small in terms of the overall variance explained, thus warranting further research. If replicated in prospective studies, then these results indicate that therapeutic approaches aimed at supporting patients in recognizing and differentiating feelings might be useful for the treatment of TTM.
AB - Previous research on trichotillomania (TTM) has demonstrated an emotion regulation function of hair pulling behavior. One condition that can impede the regulation of emotions is alexithymia. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between the degree of alexithymia and the severity of hair pulling behavior in individuals with TTM. Multiple strategies were used to recruit a sample of 105 participants via the internet. All participants were diagnosed with TTM by an experienced clinician via a subsequent phone-interview. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to test the potential predictive value of the different facets of alexithymia (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale) on the severity of TTM (Massachusetts General Hospital Hair-Pulling Scale). Both the difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF) facet of alexithymia (p=0.045) and depression (p=0.049) were significant predictors of the severity of TTM. In conclusion, alexithymia seems to play a role in hair pulling behavior in individuals with TTM. However, the significant association was small in terms of the overall variance explained, thus warranting further research. If replicated in prospective studies, then these results indicate that therapeutic approaches aimed at supporting patients in recognizing and differentiating feelings might be useful for the treatment of TTM.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Affective Symptoms
KW - Emotions
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Internet
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Severity of Illness Index
KW - Trichotillomania
KW - Young Adult
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.03.029
DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.03.029
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 24768249
VL - 218
SP - 161
EP - 165
JO - PSYCHIAT RES
JF - PSYCHIAT RES
SN - 0165-1781
IS - 1-2
ER -