Abstract
Using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the authors evaluated prevalence and significance of alexithymia in 93 ambulatory cocaine abusers treated with psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention) and pharmacotherapy (desipramine), alone and in combination. Tbirty-nine percent of the sample scored in the alexitbymic range; alexi-tbymic and nonalexitbymic subjects did not differ significantly on demographic variables, severity or pattern of cocaine use, substance-related problems, or treatment history; alexitbymic subjects reported significantly more current distress, but did not differ from nonalexitbymic subjects in rates of Axis I disorders or clinician-rated evaluations; although there was no difference in overall treatment retention or cocaine outcomes, alexitbymic subjects had better outcomes when treated with clinical management over cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention, a finding consistent with tbe theory that suggests alexitbymic patients have difficulty in treatments requiring identification of affects and cognitions.