The present meta-analytic study examined the association between alexithymia and psychoactive substance use. Studies published from 1988 to August 20, 2022 were identified by a systematic search and 168 eligible studies were included in five meta-analyses. Results showed that (1) the correlation between substance use and alexithymia is small but significant (r = 0.177); (2) substance users have substantially higher alexithymia than nonusers (g = 0.545); (3) alexithymic participants have significantly but slightly higher levels of substance use than non-alexithymics (g = 0.242); (4) substance users are significantly but only slightly more likely to be alexithymic than nonusers (OR = 2.392); and (5) alexithymic individuals are not more likely to be substance users than non-alexithymics. Larger effects were observed among samples diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD), and the use of depressants, alcohol, opiates, and illicit stimulants had stronger relation to alexithymia. We found a tendency for a larger association with problematic use as compared to other indicators (e.g., frequency and duration) of substance use. Among the components of alexithymia, difficulties in identifying feelings has the strongest association with substance use. Our findings support clinical practice by suggesting the improvement of emotion regulation in SUD.

本荟萃分析研究探讨了述情障碍与精神活性物质使用之间的关联。通过系统检索确定了 1988 年至 2022 年 8 月 20 日发表的研究，五项荟萃分析纳入了 168 项符合条件的研究。结果显示：（1）物质使用与述情障碍之间的相关性虽小但显着（ r =0.177）； (2) 物质使用者的述情障碍明显高于非使用者（ g = 0.545）； (3) 述情障碍参与者的物质使用水平明显高于非述情障碍参与者 ( g = 0.242)； (4) 物质使用者比非使用者显着但仅稍稍更容易出现述情障碍（ OR = 2.392）； (5) 述情障碍患者并不比非述情障碍患者更可能成为物质使用者。在诊断为物质使用障碍（SUD）的样本中观察到更大的影响，并且使用抑制剂、酒精、阿片类药物和非法兴奋剂与述情障碍有更强的关系。我们发现，与物质使用的其他指标（例如频率和持续时间）相比，问题性使用有更大的关联性。在述情障碍的各个组成部分中，识别感受的困难与物质使用的相关性最强。我们的研究结果通过建议改善 SUD 的情绪调节来支持临床实践。