Difficulty describing feelings and post-traumatic symptoms after a collective trauma in survivors of L'Aquila earthquake. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Giacinto, Alessandra; Lai, Carlo; Cieri, Filippo; Cinosi, Eduardo; Massaro, Giuseppe; Angelini, Viviana; Pasquini, Anna; Stuppia, Liborio; di Giannantonio, Massimo
• Is Part Of: Journal of mental health. Volume 24:Number 3(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 150
• Page End: 154
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Mental health -- Periodicals; Mental health services -- Periodicals; 362.2
• DOI: 10.3109/09638237.2015.1019055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-8237

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Background</italic>: The association between alexithymia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms has been demonstrated in several studies, but never in victims of a collective trauma such as a natural disaster, which has an impact on an entire community.</p> <p> <italic>Aims</italic>: The aim was to assess the relationship between alexithymia and post-traumatic symptoms in a group of people who lived in L'Aquila exposed to the earthquake that hit the town in 2009.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic>: Eighty-seven participants were included and assessed for alexithymia, PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, and psychiatric symptoms. Linear regression models were used to test the hypothesis.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: The main finding was an association between "Difficulty-Describing-Feelings" and the intensity of post-traumatic symptoms in the worst month after trauma. Depression, anxiety and psychiatric comorbidity also showed a significant association with PTSD symptoms.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: In the present study of a collectively shared trauma, the alexithymic factor "difficulty-describing-feelings" was significantly associated with the intensity of post-traumatic symptoms.</p> </abstract>