Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alexithymia in Burn Patients

Abstract

We examined symptoms of posttraumatic stress and alexithymia in a sample of 24 burn patients. Of these burn patients, those in the chronic phase (more than 10 months after the burn) indicated alexithymia more strongly. Among symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, symptoms of avoidance and emotional numbing were also stronger in patients in the chronic phase. The manifestation of the alexithymic features was closely related to symptoms of avoidance and emotional numbing. These findings suggest the possibility that alexithymia as a state reaction may be evident when avoidance and emotional numbing appear among symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.