Alexithymia: Clinical and Forensic Implications

1 Hour | 1 CE

This on-demand professional training program on Alexithymia: Clinical and Forensic Implications is presented by Jerrod Brown, Ph.D.

Alexithymia is a multi-faceted construct that is characterized by chronic deficits in the processing of affective information. Individuals with alexithymia often struggle to identify, communicate, and think about feelings and emotions. For instance, a diminished ability to use one’s feelings to guide behavior appropriately in social environments is common among those with alexithymia. Other issues include deficits in emotional awareness and regulation, social attachment, and relating to others, and an increased likelihood of expressing emotional arousal through somatization (e.g., physical expression of psychological symptoms).

Alexithymia has been linked to an array of disorders (e.g., psychiatric, substance use, neurodevelopment, medical, neurological, and psychosomatic), risk-taking behaviors, maladaptive anger expression, poor emotional regulation, decreased treatment response, increased burden on caregivers and family members, and a number of social-emotional problems. Designed for professionals working in criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings, this training provides attendees with a working understanding of the definitions, causes, and consequences of alexithymia.