Attachment and alexithymia: the role of emotions from the affective deprivation towards illness

A growing body of evidence investigated the relationship between alexithymia and attachment styles. Particularly, the attachment model suggests that repeated crucial stressful interactions, such as trauma, can increase the vulnerability to illness in adult life. Nowadays, few longitudinal studies evaluate the link of relational style and health of patients throughout the course of life, nevertheless such studies depend on more solid evidence that psychotherapy or other interventions can improve attachment than what is currently available. The object of this case report is to describe the relationship between the attachment style and alexithymia in a patient with experience of child trauma.