The Efficacy of Alexithymia Reduction Treatment: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The aim of this pilot research project was to assess the efficacy of Alexithymia Reduction Treatment (ART), a six-session manualized psychoeducational group intervention. A quasi-experimental design was used. The six participants in the Treatment Group were recruited at a university-based counseling center and the seven participants in the Treatment as Usual group were from a hospital-based day treatment program. Participants in the Treatment Group demonstrated significant reductions in normative male alexithymia and the endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology from pre-test to post-test. The Treatment as Usual group did not demonstrate significant reductions in these variables pre-test to post-test. Neither group showed significant change in attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help.