Clinical Psychology: Research and Practice Innovations

Clinical Psychology: Research and Practice Innovations"

The Mediating Role of Alexithymia in the Relationship between Cognitive Flexibility with Quality of Life and Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder of Patients with Psoriasis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Faezeh Mahmodian Fard 1
Hosein Eskandari 2
1 M.Sc student in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Medical Sciences and Technologies Faculty, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Corresponding Author, Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22075/jcp.2025.36277.3080
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to investigate mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between cognitive flexibility with quality of life and obsessive–compulsive disorder of patients with psoriasis. This was descriptive-correlation research.
Method: The statistical population of the study was patients with psoriasis of Tehran city in year 2024. The sample size was selected based on Klein's model (2023) and with subjectivw sampling of 200 patients with psoriasis. Data collection tools include the dermatology life quality index (DLQI) of Finlay & Khan (1994), the Maudsley obsessive–compulsive inventory (MOCI) of Hodgson and Rachman (1977), cognitive flexibility inventory (CFI) of Dennis and Vander Wal (2010) and Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS) of Bagby and et al (1994). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and structural equations modeling.
Results: The results showed direct effect of cognitive flexibility on quality of life (β= - 0.84 and sig=0.001) and obsessive–compulsive disorder (β= - 0.73). Also, the final research model had a good fit (RMSEA=0.03, p<0.05) and 98% of the variance of obsessive–compulsive disorder and 99% of the variance of quality of life is explained by cognitive flexibility with mediating role of alexithymia.
Discussion and conclusion: According to the findings of this research and the role of cognitive flexibility and alexithymia, the use of emotion regulation training and acceptance and commitment therapy, to improve the quality of life and obsessive–compulsive disorder of patients with psoriasis.
Keywords
alexithymia
cognitive flexibility
obsessive–compulsive disorder
psoriasis
quality of life
Subjects

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  • Receive Date 03 January 2025
  • Revise Date 03 June 2025
  • Accept Date 06 June 2025
  • First Publish Date 20 February 2026
  • Publish Date 20 February 2026