Alexithymia and coping strategies: Predictors of hopelessness?

Abstract

IntroductionAlexithymic traits and coping strategies may affect the onset and course of many psychiatric conditions. However, their role in determining hopelessness and suicide risk has been not still elucidated.ObjectivesThe present study analyzed the correlations between alexithymia, coping strategies, and hopelessness.AimsWe aimed to evaluate whether specific coping strategies and alexithymia may predict hopelessness which is widely considered an independent risk factor for suicide.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study conducted on 276 patients (19.9% men, 81.1% women; mean age: 48.1 years, SD: 16.9), of which most with major affective disorders, who were admitted at the Psychiatric Unit of the University of Genoa (Italy). All participants were assessed using the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20).ResultsAlexythimic subjects significantly differ from non-alexythimic individuals in terms of substance abuse (χ2 = 23.1; P = .027). According to bivariate analyses, we found a significant correlation between hopelessness and suicidal thoughts/wishes (r = .34; P = .01), humor (r = –.24; P = .05), and behavioural disengagement (r = .205; P = .05). Behavioural disengagement is also a positive predictor of hopelessness (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.03–1.52) while humour is a negative predictor of hopelessness (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.73–0.99).ConclusionsBehavioural disengagement needs to be considered a risk factor while humor is a protective factor for suicide. Surprisingly, we found no significant association between alexithymia and hopelessness. Further additional studies are requested to test these exploratory findings in order to more deeply elucidate the role of both alexithymia and coping strategies in suicidal behaviour.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.