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Alexithymia in holocaust survivors with and without PTSD
Author(s) -
Yehuda Rachel,
Steiner Ann,
Kahana Boaz,
BinderBrynes Karen,
Southwick Steven M.,
Zemelman Shelly,
Giller Earl L.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.2490100108
Subject(s) - alexithymia , toronto alexithymia scale , posttraumatic stress , psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , anxiety disorder , anxiety
Alexithymia was measured in non‐treatment seeking, community‐dwelling Holocaust survivors using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale—Twenty Item Version (TAS‐20). Scores of survivors with ( n = 30 ) and without ( n = 26) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were compared, and associations among alexithymia, severity of trauma, and severity of PTSD symptoms were determined. Survivors with PTSD had significantly higher scores on the TAS‐20 compared to survivors without PTSD. TAS‐20 scores were significantly associated with severity of PTSD symptoms, but not with severity of trauma. This study adds to our knowledge of the relationship between alexithymia and trauma by demonstrating that this characteristic is related to the presence of posttraumatic symptoms and not simply exposure to trauma.