The Impact of Alexithymia and Perceived Social Support on Suicidal Probability of Drug Abusers' Patients.

Background: Alexithymia can cause emotional disturbances and dysregulation, which increases the risk of addictive behaviors and suicidal thoughts in drug abuse patients, which in turn exacerbates emotional dysregulation, and creates a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. Perceived social support can reduce the incidence of suicidal ideation and increase personal self-esteem through the use of social support. Aim of study: to explore the impact of alexithymia and perceived social support on suicidal probability among drug abusers' patients. Subjects and Methods : The study was conducted at addiction clinic in the outpatient clinics of Zagazig university hospitals using descriptive correlational design on137 drug abusers' patients .Data were collected using A structured interview questionnaire, Drug Use Disorder Identification Test, Toronto Alexithymia Scale ,Suicide Probability Scale and Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results: 82.5% of drug abuse patients had alexithymia, 69.3%had moderate level of suicidal risk, 97.8%had drug related problems, and 82.5% were drug dependent. Suicidal probability increased with alexithymia (p=0.014), lower perceived social support (p=0.0001), drug –related problems (p=0.005) and drug dependents (p=0.0001). Treatment duration is positive correlated with suicidal risk (r=0.341), while negative correlated with perceived social support (r=-0.209). Period of addiction is positive correlated with alexithymia (r=0.179).Multivariate analysis explained drug abuse and alexithymia (DDF) dimension were positive predictors of suicide probability .Conversely, perceived social support and alexithymia (EOT) dimension were negative predictors. Conclusion: The majority of the patients have alexithymia and are drug addicts, with a moderate level of suicidal risk and perceived social support. Suicidal risk is associated with drug abuse and alexithymic patients, but not with perceived social support. Recommendations: A psychological intervention program to improve emotional awareness and perceived social support is recommended to prevent drug abuse and suicidal probability. As well, emotion-focused intervention strategies for patients to reduce alexithymia.