Abstract
Alexithymia is a condition where patients experience difficulty in identifying and describing inner feelings. We compared the patterns of coping behavior of 148 alexithymics (with scores of 74 or more on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale) with those of 127 non-alexithymics (with scores of 64 or less) . Challenge to cope with stress was significantly less frequently observed among alexithymics than non-alexithymics. Active avoidance, passive avoidance, and inappropriate emotional release were significantly more frequently observed in alexithymics than in non-alexithymics. Behavioral modification of coping may be effective in reducing the severity of alexithymia.
