Alexithymia and attachment representation in idiopathic spasmodic torticollis

We investigated alexithymia and the mental representation of attachment in idiopathic spasmodic torticollis (IST). It was hypothesized a) that alexith ymia in IST is more prevalent than in a nonclinical, control group and b) t hat significant correlations emerge between alexithymia and a dismissing at tachment representation. Twenty patients with IST and 20 healthy controls m atched for age and sex were administered the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS -20) and the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Attachment was classified us ing the Attachment Interview Q-sort. IST patients scored significantly high er on the measure of alexithymia than subjects in the comparison group. In IST a dismissing attachment representation was significantly more frequent than in the control group. Across the total sample, externally oriented thi nking correlated positively with dismissing attachment., and both externall y oriented thinking and difficulty communicating feelings (two of the three subscales of the TAS-20) correlated inversely with secure attachment. Alex ithymia is more prevalent in IST than in normals.. As was hypothesized, ale xithymia in adults is significantly interrelated with the mental representa tion of attachment.