2026-09-23T12:58:48Zhttps://cora.ucc.ie/server/oai/request

oai:cora.ucc.ie:10468/179552025-10-07T02:02:05Zcom_10468_249com_10468_2com_10468_6971com_10468_6com_10468_384com_10468_1col_10468_1233col_10468_7994col_10468_385col_10468_8983

N/A Ryan, Christian Keating, Kim de Búrca, Isobel Health Service Executive 2025-10-06T10:55:50Z 2025-10-06T10:55:50Z 2025 2025 Alexithymia has been increasingly associated with criminal behaviour, impulsivity, aggression, and difficulties in emotion regulation, with research suggesting that it may be more common in prison populations than in the general population. Trauma has also been proposed as a potential factor influencing this relationship. The current research presents two complementary studies. First, a scoping review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines to examine existing literature on alexithymia in offender populations. Forty-three studies were included, which generally indicated that alexithymia may be widespread in these cohorts and is often linked with aggression, trauma, and mental health difficulties, suggesting a possible role in shaping emotional and behavioural outcomes. Second, an empirical study explored the prevalence and characteristics of alexithymia within an Irish prison population, with particular attention to trauma history and the distinction between primary and secondary alexithymia. Thirty-five male prisoners completed measures of trauma (Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, Trauma History Questionnaire) and alexithymia (TAS-20, APRQ). Results suggested elevated rates of alexithymia and high levels of trauma exposure, with many participants reporting multiple ACEs. Preliminary analyses indicated a modest association between observer-rated alexithymia and ACE scores, and cluster analysis pointed to potential subgroups that may align with primary (low trauma, higher alexithymia) and secondary (high trauma, higher alexithymia) alexithymia. Taken together, these findings tentatively highlight the value of trauma-informed assessment and intervention in forensic settings, which may help to support emotional regulation, interpersonal functioning, and rehabilitation outcomes. Not peer reviewed Accepted Version application/pdf de Búrca, I. 2025. Alexithymia and trauma in the prison population. DClinPsych Thesis, University College Cork. 209 https://hdl.handle.net/10468/17955 en University College Cork © 2025, Isobel de Búrca. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Alexithymia Prison population Forensic psychology Trauma Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Primary and secondary alexithymia Alexithymia and trauma in the prison population Study 1: Alexithymia in the prison population, a scoping review Study 2: Locked away: exploring alexithymia and trauma among Irish prisoners Doctoral thesis Practitioner Doctorate DClinPsych - Doctor of Clinical Psychologyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess