Alexithymia and non-treatment. an Internet based study of 312 people with chronic anxiety
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Alexithymia and non-treatment. an Internet based study of 312 people with chronic anxiety. / Rufer, Michael; Moergeli, Hanspeter; Moritz, Steffen; Drabe, Natalie; Weidt, Steffi.
In: COMPR PSYCHIAT, Vol. 55, No. 1, 01.01.2014, p. 179-187.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Alexithymia and non-treatment. an Internet based study of 312 people with chronic anxiety
AU - Rufer, Michael
AU - Moergeli, Hanspeter
AU - Moritz, Steffen
AU - Drabe, Natalie
AU - Weidt, Steffi
N1 - © 2014.
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of highly efficacious treatments, many individuals with anxiety disorders never receive adequate treatment. Alexithymic deficits, such as difficulties in recognizing feelings and focusing on emotional experiences, may contribute to low rates of help seeking.METHODS: Multiple Internet-based strategies (announcements of anxiety disorder websites, postings in online self-help forums, notices in anxiety chat rooms) were used to recruit a sample of 312 participants with chronic and clinically relevant anxiety symptoms. Those who had never received professional treatment (n = 49) were compared to those with current or previous treatment (n=263) with regard to alexithymia, anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life.RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis revealed that the strongest predictor for belonging to the never treated group was the externally oriented thinking facet of alexithymia. In addition, substantially more participants in the never treated group (49%) were considered high-alexithymic (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale total score ≥ 61) compared to the treated group (35%).CONCLUSIONS: The main finding was a strong relationship between the externally oriented thinking facet of alexithymia and the non-use of professional help for anxiety. Internet-based programs could be a promising first step in supporting this group of people to overcome their anxiety.
AB - BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of highly efficacious treatments, many individuals with anxiety disorders never receive adequate treatment. Alexithymic deficits, such as difficulties in recognizing feelings and focusing on emotional experiences, may contribute to low rates of help seeking.METHODS: Multiple Internet-based strategies (announcements of anxiety disorder websites, postings in online self-help forums, notices in anxiety chat rooms) were used to recruit a sample of 312 participants with chronic and clinically relevant anxiety symptoms. Those who had never received professional treatment (n = 49) were compared to those with current or previous treatment (n=263) with regard to alexithymia, anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life.RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis revealed that the strongest predictor for belonging to the never treated group was the externally oriented thinking facet of alexithymia. In addition, substantially more participants in the never treated group (49%) were considered high-alexithymic (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale total score ≥ 61) compared to the treated group (35%).CONCLUSIONS: The main finding was a strong relationship between the externally oriented thinking facet of alexithymia and the non-use of professional help for anxiety. Internet-based programs could be a promising first step in supporting this group of people to overcome their anxiety.
KW - Affective Symptoms
KW - Anxiety Disorders
KW - Female
KW - Health Surveys
KW - Humans
KW - Internet
KW - Male
KW - Patient Acceptance of Health Care
KW - Psychometrics
KW - Severity of Illness Index
U2 - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.06.007
DO - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.06.007
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 23916091
VL - 55
SP - 179
EP - 187
JO - COMPR PSYCHIAT
JF - COMPR PSYCHIAT
SN - 0010-440X
IS - 1
ER -