Hiroshima International University Reports Findings in Neuropsychopharmacology (Cluster analysis of patients with alcohol use disorder featuring alexithymia, depression, and diverse drinking behavior).

A recent study conducted at Hiroshima International University in Japan aimed to identify subgroups of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) based on a combination of alexithymia, depression, and diverse drinking behavior. The study recruited 176 patients with AUD and divided them into non-alexithymic and alexithymic groups. The results showed that patients with alexithymia exhibited greater depressive symptoms and more pathological drinking behavior patterns compared to those without alexithymia. Cluster analysis identified three subtypes of AUD: core AUD type, late-onset type, and alexithymic type. The study suggests that the alexithymic subtype may require additional support for negative affect due to accompanying mood problems and maladaptive drinking behaviors. [Extracted from the article]