Susana Eusébio
Portugal
Research Article
Alexithymia, Physiological Reactivity and Cognitive Appraisals of Emotional
Stimuli in Opiate Dependents: A Pilot Study.
Author(s): Marco Torrado, Hugo Silva, Susana Eusébio, Ana Fred and Silvia OuakininMarco Torrado, Hugo Silva, Susana Eusébio, Ana Fred and Silvia Ouakinin
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate psychophysiological reactivity to daily-life stimuli in opiate
dependents and associations with alexithymia. Methods: The sample (n=72) was composed of a heroin addicts
group treated with methadone and a healthy group, studied in several variables. Participants completed the
Portuguese versions of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 items, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the
Mini-Mental State Examination. They were also exposed to images from The International Affective Pictures System
(IAPS) and physiological parameters and ratings of valence and arousal were collected. Results: Opiate dependents
showed more alexithymia than controls and higher autonomic reactivity to stimuli. Higher levels of alexithymia
seems to moderate an inverse association between heart rate and cogni.. View More»
