A Comparison of Alexithymia in Individuals with Suicidal Ideation, Attempted Suicide, and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury İntihar Düşüncesi Olan, İntihar Girişiminde Bulunan ve İntihar Amaçlı Olmayan Kendine Zarar Verme Davranışı Bulunan Bireylerde Aleksitiminin Karşılaştırılması
Genel Tip Dergisi, cilt.34, sa.3, ss.386-391, 2024 (Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 34 Sayı: 3
- Basım Tarihi: 2024
- Doi Numarası: 10.54005/geneltip.1444016
- Dergi Adı: Genel Tip Dergisi
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.386-391
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Alexithymia, attempted suicide, non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background/Aims: Alexithymia is a concept characterized by the impairment of an individual’s awareness of his feelings and ability to clearly identify and describe them. This study investigated whether alexithymia levels would differ in three different groups consisting of participants exhibiting suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Methods: Seventy-five patients admitted to the psychiatry clinic and emergency department due to suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, or non-suicidal self-injury and 25 healthy controls were included in the study. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were applied to all participants. The individuals taking part were assigned into three different groups for comparisons: suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, and NSSI. Results: TAS-20 scores and HDRS scores were higher in the patient groups than in the healthy controls (p<0.001). Significantly higher TAS-20 scores were determined in the group with NSSI than in the attempted suicide group. Mean scores for the TAS subscales TAS-A (difficulty identifying feelings) and TAS-B (difficulty describing feelings) were significantly higher in the NSSI group than in the attempted suicide group. Positive correlation was found between severity of depression and alexithymia levels, TAS-20 scores, TAS-A scores, TAS-B scores, and TAS-C (externally oriented thinking) scores. Conclusion: The data from this study indicate that alexithymia levels in NSSI are higher than in individuals with attempted suicide and suicidal ideation. This finding reveals the importance of examining individuals with NSSI in terms of alexithymia as well.