The influence of defense mechanisms on secondary alexithymia in hemodialysis patients.

The influence of psychodynamic aspects such as the defense mechanisms for conflict on secondary alexithymia in hemodialysis (HD) patients was examined among 35 HD patients and their family members. Although HD patients had quite strong conflicts due to HD therapy, the manifestation of conflict and expressiveness toward the family were significantly lower in HD patients with alexithymia than in those without alexithymia. Significantly positive and negative correlations were observed between conflict and expressiveness, and between expressiveness and degree of alexithymia, respectively. These results suggest that this defense mechanism strongly suppresses the manifestation of conflict, and that secondary alexithymia in HD patients may be derived from defense mechanisms such as denial.