Regolazione affettiva e psicopatologia nei giovani adulti: una ricerca clinica

ABSTRACT: Background: In recent years, clinical research has highlighted the importance of considering the strategies of affect regulation and the quality of attachment. These are indeed key variables in determining possible psychological difficulties or even development of psychopathology in youth. Disorders of affect regulation, caused by insecure attachment patterns, frequently associated with an alexithymic functioning, may represent significant risk factors for the development and long-term outcomes of psychopathology in adolescence, especially if in presence of disorganized states of mind. Objective: Assessing the quality of affect regulation in a sample of adolescents and young adults who refer to a service for mental distress in adolescence. Method: A sample of 204 late adolescents between 17 and 25 years old were assessed by clinicians according to the ICD-9 (World Health Organization, 1992). Overall mental functioning (VGF), symptoms’ level (Symptom Checklist-90-R; Derogatis, 1977), attachment style (Attachment Style Questionnaire; Feeney et al., 1994), level of alexytimia (Toronto Alexytimia Scale-20; Bagby et al., 1994a, 1994b) were also assessed. A subgroup of patients were administered the Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan e Main, 1984) and the SWAP-200 (Shedler Westen Assessment Procedure-200, Westen, Shedler, Lingiardi, 2003). Results: Results showed the existence of high correlations between self-report instruments that define two profiles of affect regulation: an anxious-symptomatic style, characterized by hyperactivation of the attachment system, high level of symptoms and difficulty in identifying emotional states; and an alexithymicavoidant style, characterized by deactivation of attachment system, low self-esteem, emotional distance and difficulties to communicate internal states. These styles show significant correlations with some personality disorders and with disorganized attachment states of mind. Conclusions: The possibility to investigate these variables in the initial consultation with adolescents who have a clinically significant distress allows a more thorough evaluation of their level of functioning with significant implications on treatment plan.