The Study Of Correlation Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder And Alexithymia

Object : 1.To know the occurrences of alexithymia among post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD),non-PTSD population who experienced trauma and the normal population. 2. To study the relationship between PTSD symptoms and alexithymia.Methods:1. Participants: The PTSD group was consist of 104 participants who experienced trauma and met the standard of International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems( ICD-10).The non-PTSD group was consist of 103 participants who experienced trauma. the normal population were composed by 100 volunteers with physical and mental health.2.Research tools: General questionnaire, post traumatic stress disorder checklist civilian version(PCL-C), The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scales(TAS-20).3. Evaluation: we evaluated both demographic data a month later after the trauma happened and PCL-C scale within two days that participants were enrolled into the group. If the score is more than 41, the participant will be assessed by two psychiatric clinicians together. The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scales(TAS-20) were administered to all of the population. Patients were diagnosed with alexithymia if 52≤TAS-20≤60. If TAS-20≤51, Patients were regarded as non-alexithymia. If TAS-20≥61, Patients had serious alexithymia symptoms.4. Statistical analysis: The statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 17.0. Measurement data expressed as sx ?. Count data expressed as percentage(%). All tests were two-sided test, the test level is P <0.05. Descriptive statistics, χ2test, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis were used.Results:1.Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in the general information,(P>0.05) among three groups. There was no significant difference in the type of traumatic events between PTSD group and non-PTSD.2.There were significant differences in TAS-20 total score, F1, F2, F3 scores among PTSD group, the non-PTSD group and the normal control group(P <0.01).3.The occurrence of alexithymia in PTSD group’s was 61.54%, the non-PTSD group’s 20.39%, And the normal control group’s is 9%.Patients with PTSD had a significantly higher occurrence of alexithymia than that in non-PTSD survivors and the normal population.4.PCL-C total score, factor B, C and D scores significantly higher in PTSD group than that in non-PTSD group. Each term of PCL-C score in PTSD group scored significantly higher in non-PTSD group(P <0.01).5.The correlation analysis indicated that PTSD intrusion and arousal symptoms had significant relation with TAS-20 total score, F1 score and F2 score.6.There were no significant difference in the TAS-20 total score, F1 score and F2 score in the PTSD group who experienced different traumatic events.Conclusions:1. PTSD patients have a significantly higher occurrence of alexithymia than that in non-PTSD survivors and normal population.2.There is a certain correlation between post-traumatic stress disorder and alexithymia. Alexithymia may exist as accompanying symptoms of PTSD.