A mechanism-based digital intervention for alexithymia: Design, development, and validation of a multi-modal approach

Alexithymia, characterized by difficulty identifying and describing feelings, coupled with an externally-oriented thinking style, is a transdiagnostic trait associated with various disorders. Despite its prevalence, targeted interventions remain limited. This study developed a digital intervention tool for alexithymia based on an affective process framework and evaluated its effectiveness in improving alexithymic symptoms through a randomized controlled trial, thereby filling a gap in the existing study.

Functional impairments were analyzed across four key stages of emotional processing, leading to the identification of core components: attention bias modification (ABM), mindfulness training, vocabulary training, and expressive writing exercises. A user-friendly digital tool incorporating these elements was designed and tested.

A randomized controlled trial (n = 47, TAS-20 ≥ 61) demonstrated that the experimental group experienced a significant reduction in TAS-20 scores compared to the control group. Furthermore, improvements were observed in measures of depression, anxiety, stress, mindfulness, emotional differentiation, and overall emotional processing. Importantly, improvements in emotional well-being were correlated with engagement in the training process, and user evaluations of the program were highly positive.

These results support the efficacy of the digital intervention in enhancing emotional abilities and mitigating alexithymia, offering a scalable and accessible solution for individuals struggling with this condition.