Exploring The Interrelationship Between Alexithymia, Defense Style, Emotional Suppression, Homicide-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Psychiatric Co-Morbidity
Highlights •Perpetrators can develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following homicide. •Different psychological factors contribute to the severity of PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidity. •Alexithymia is associated with defense style which is also correlated with emotional suppression. •Emotional suppression is associated with homicide-related PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidity. Abstract
This study investigated the interrelationship between alexithymia, defense style, emotional suppression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following homicide and psychiatric co-morbidity. One hundred and fifty male homicide perpetrators and 156 male perpetrators of non-violent crime completed the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (except for non-violent perpetrators), the General Health Questionnaire-28, the Defense Styles Questionnaire, the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. The results showed that 44% of homicide perpetrators met the criteria for PTSD. No significant differences were found between groups in alexithymia, defense style and psychiatric co-morbidity. Homicide perpetrators suppressed depression significantly more than the non-violent group...