Alexithymia Is Common Among Adolescents With Severe Disruptive Behavior

作者：Manninen Marko^*; Therman Sebastian; Suvisaari Jaana; Ebeling Hanna; Moilanen Irma; Huttunen Matti; Joukamaa Matti

来源：Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 2011, 199(7): 506-509.

DOI：10.1097/NMD.0b013e3182214281

• Adolescents
• alexithymia
• delinquency
• incarceration
• Toronto alexithymia scale TAS-20

This study aimed to examine alexithymic features and associations between alexithymia and psychiatric symptoms among adolescents living in a closed institution because of severe behavioral problems. Forty-seven adolescents (29 boys and 18 girls) aged 15 to 18 years completed the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) Questionnaire and the Youth Self-Report, whereas their foster parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist. The TAS-20 scores of the participants were compared with those of an extensive population sample (N = 6000) matched by age and birth year. Reform school adolescents are significantly more alexithymic than the control group, and the TAS-20 scores are correlated with numerous psychiatric problems, mainly in the internalizing spectrum, but also with thought problems and self-reported aggression. Promoting abilities in identifying and describing feelings is important when treating delinquent adolescents.

• 出版日期2011-7