The relationship between alexithymia and salivary cortisol levels in somatoform disorders

The purpose of this study was to investigate cortisol levels as a function of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) in relation to alexithymia in patients with somatoform disorders (SFD). Diurnal salivary cortisol was sampled in 32 patients with SFD who also underwent a psychiatric examination and filled in questionnaires (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS scale; Screening for Somatoform Symptoms, SOMS scale; Hamilton Depression Scale, HAMD). The mean TAS total score in the sample was 55.6±9.6, 32% of patients being classified as alexithymic on the basis of their TAS scores. Depression scores were moderate (HAMD=13.2, Beck Depression Inventory, BDI=16.5). The patients’ alexithymia scores (TAS scale “Difficulty identifying feelings”) correlated significantly positively with their somatization scale scores (Symptom Checklist-90 Revised, SCL-90-R); r=0.3438 (P<0.05) and their scores on the Global Severity Index (GSI) on the SCL-90-R; r=0.781 (P<0.01). Regression analysis was performed with cortisol variables as the dependent variables. Cortisol levels [measured by the area under the curve–ground (AUC-G), area under the curve–increase (AUC-I) and morning cortisol (MCS)] were best predicted in a multiple linear regression model by lower depressive scores (HAMD) and more psychopathological symptoms (SCL-90-R). No significant correlations were found between the patients’ alexithymia scores (TAS) and cortisol levels. The healthy control group (n=25) demonstrated significantly higher cortisol levels than did the patients with SFD; in both tests P<0.001 for AUC-G and AUC-I. However, the two groups did not differ in terms of their mean morning cortisol levels (P>0.05). The results suggest that pre-existing hypocortisolism might possibly be associated with SFD.     

躯体化症状为主抑郁症患者的述情障碍

目的:探讨以躯体化症状为主抑郁症患者和以情绪症状为主抑郁症患者述情障碍的差异。方法:50例以躯体化症状为主抑郁症患者(躯体症状组)、50例以情绪症状为主抑郁症患者(情绪症状组)和50名正常健康者(正常对照组)参加研究,采用90项症状自评量表(SCL-90)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)和多伦多述情障碍量表进行评定。结果:躯体症状组SCL-90总分、躯体化、焦虑、人际敏感、恐怖、偏执因子分及HAMD的焦虑/躯体化因子评分均高于情绪症状组(P<0.01或P<0.05),情绪症状组在强迫、抑郁因子评分及HAMD的认知障碍、阻滞、日夜变化、睡眠障碍及绝望因子分高于躯体症状组(P<0.05或P<0.01)。躯体症状组与情绪症状组仅在述情障碍因子II评分差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),而在述情障碍总分及因子分上均高于正常对照组(P<0.05或P<0.001)。结论:以躯体化症状为主和以情绪症状为主抑郁症患者均存在述情障碍,以前者更缺乏识别情绪和躯体感受能力。     

述情障碍与心理健康状况的相关性分析

目的 了解述情障碍与心理健康状况的关系。方法 对274名高中生进行TAS、SCL-90自我测试,对所获资料进行相关分析。结果 被试对象TAS总分与SCL-90总分及各因子分显著相关(P<0.01),同时SCL-90总分与TAS各因子分显著相关(P<0.01)。结论 心理健康水平在一定程度上取决于述情障碍的水平,述情障碍可能是心理健康水平的人格基础。     

Distribution of alexithymia as a personality-trait in psychosomatically ill in-patients--measured with TAS 20 and LEAS

Preliminary findings of an ongoing study of the distribution of alexithymia in different diagnostic-groups of psychosomatically ill in-patients (n = 240, will be increased to n = 400) are reported. Alexithymiea is measured simultaneousely by the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS, a performance-test) and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS 20, a self-report-scale). Measured by the LEAS and compared with other diagnostic groups (affective, anxiety and compulsive-obsessive disorders; adjustment disorders; eating disorders), patients with somatoform disorders showed a decreased ability to be aware of and to communicate their emotional states. This finding which meets theoretical considerations about the origin of alexithymia could not be found with the TAS 20. The TAS 20 did not differentiate between the diagnostic groups, but showed - in accordance with two other self-report-scales (STAI for self reported anxiety as a personality trait and SCL-90-R for self reported somatic und psychic complaints) - higher mean scores at the onset than at the end of treatment. Methodical implications of the different findings of the two alexithymia scales are discussed.     

酒依赖患者的情绪障碍和述情障碍

目的：探讨酒依赖患者的情绪障碍和述情障碍。方法：采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）、汉密尔顿焦虑量表（HAMA）、多伦多述情障碍量表（TAS）以50例酒依赖患者和50例正常对照组进行比较研究。结果：酒依赖组与对照组在焦虑、抑郁情绪和述情障碍方面存在明显差异。结论：纠正情绪和述情障碍可能有利于戒酒成功。     

Effects of inpatient psychotherapy on the stability of alexithymia characteristics

Background

Although alexithymia is associated with several psychiatric disorders, there has been little research into the effects of psychodynamic psychotherapies on this condition. Here, the influence of inpatient multimodal psychodynamic psychotherapy on alexithymia and symptom load was evaluated in a large sample of patients.

Methods

Alexithymia [measured with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS)-26] and psychological stress and depression [measured with the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R)] were evaluated at admission and after inpatient multimodal psychotherapy in patients with various psychosomatic and psychiatric disorders admitted to this unit between 2002 and 2005. Patients undergoing both short-term (up to 4 weeks) and long-term treatment (8-12 weeks) were studied. Analyses of covariance were used to analyse the data on depression (SCL-90-R) and psychological stress (SCL-90-R), and correlations between admission and discharge scores for the TAS-26 were computed to evaluate mean and relative stability of alexithymia.

Results

Data on 397 of the 568 patients admitted were analysed. Psychological stress and depression (SCL-90-R) decreased significantly during the study across all diagnostic groups. The TAS-26 total score also decreased significantly, showing that there was no mean stability of alexithymic characteristics. However, the significance of decrease was lost when psychological stress and depression were controlled for. Highly significant correlations between TAS-26 sores before and after treatment reflected high relative stability of alexithymia.

Conclusions

During inpatient multimodal psychodynamic treatment, the symptom load and alexithymia in our patients decreased. The high relative stability of alexithymia shown supports the view that alexithymia is a relative stable personality trait.     

医学生述情障碍与心理健康及人格特征的关系研究

目的探讨医学院学生述情障碍与心理健康状况及人格特征的关系。方法对医学院在校大学生310人进行多伦多述情障碍量表(TAS)、症状自评量表(SCL-90)、修订艾森克个性问卷(EPQ,其中205名学生完成)的测量,并进行相关和回归分析。结果TAS与SCL-90各因子相关均有统计学意义(P均=0.000),相关值在0.185-0.396,与强迫因子的相关系数最高;TAS各因子与EPQ中的内外向(E)、神经质维度(N)的相关具有统计学意义;回归分析发现强迫因子、E对TAS影响较强。结论医学生述情障碍与心理健康状况及人格特征中的部分量表存在有统计学意义的中度相关,其中与强迫因子、E相关较强。     

The Relationship between Alexithymia and General Symptoms of Patients with Depressive Disorders

Objective

Depression has been associated with alexithymic features. However, few studies have investigated the differences in the general symptoms of patients with depressive disorders according to the presence of alexithymia. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between alexithymia and symptoms experienced by patients with clinically diagnosed depressive disorders.

Methods

A chart review of patients who were evaluated using the Korean version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) at the same time between the years 2003 and 2007 was conducted. A total of 104 patients with depressive disorders were included and divided into two groups: alexithymia (n=52) and non-alexithymia (n=52). A direct comparison between the two groups was carried out. Regression analysis was also carried out for the TAS-20 total and subset scores in order to model the relationship between alexithymia and symptoms.

Results

The presence of alexithymia was confirmed in 50% of the patients with depressive disorders, and the symptoms of depressive patients with alexithymia were more severe than those of their non-alexithymic counterparts on all 9 symptom domains of the SCL-90-R. Furthermore, regression analysis revealed that the presence of alexithymia was positively associated with depression, phobic anxiety, and psychoticism but inversely associated with anxiety.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the clinical features of depression are partially dependent on the presence of alexithymia. Alexithymic patients with depressive disorders are likely to show more severe depressive, psychotic, and phobic symptoms. In other words, clinicians should suspect the presence of alexithymic tendencies if these symptoms coexist in patients with depressive disorders and address their difficulties in effective communication.     

Alexithymia,temperament and character as predictors of psychopathology in patients with major depression

The study investigated the capacity of alexithymic personality features, in combination with temperament and character traits, age and gender, to predict psychopathological symptoms in patients with major depression. Consecutive patients (n = 339) were investigated using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), and the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales (HDRS, HARS). The amount of variance in SCL-90-R subscales and Hamilton scales predicted by TAS-20, TCI, age and gender was calculated by linear regression analyses. The ‘difficulties identifying feeling’ facet of alexithymia appeared to be a significant predictor of all dimensions of psychopathology. Among TCI scales harm avoidance was the strongest predictor for somatization, phobic anxiety, and anxiety (SCL-90-R, HARS); low self-directedness was the strongest predictor for obsessionality, depression (SCL-90-R, HDRS), interpersonal sensitivity and psychoticism; and low cooperativeness was the strongest predictor for hostility and paranoia. In conclusion, many psychopathological symptoms in major depression are associated with difficulties in the identification of emotions. Relative to alexithymia, Cloninger's psychobiological model of personality could predict psychopathological symptoms in a distinct and meaningful manner. The TAS-20 and the TCI are useful questionnaires for a better understanding of the relationship between psychopathology and personality in major depression.     

Facial emotion recognition and alexithymia in adults with somatoform disorders

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate facial emotion recognition in patients with somatoform disorders (SFD). Also of interest was the extent to which concurrent alexithymia contributed to any changes in emotion recognition accuracy. Methods: Twenty patients with SFD and twenty healthy, age, sex and education matched, controls were assessed with the Facially Expressed Emotion Labelling Test of facial emotion recognition and the 26‐item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS‐26). Results: Patients with SFD exhibited elevated alexithymia symptoms relative to healthy controls. Patients with SFD also recognized significantly fewer emotional expressions than did the healthy controls. However, the group difference in emotion recognition accuracy became nonsignificant once the influence of alexithymia was controlled for statistically. Conclusions: This suggests that the deficit in facial emotion recognition observed in the patients with SFD was most likely a consequence of concurrent alexithymia. Impaired facial emotion recognition observed in the patients with SFD could plausibly have a negative influence on these individuals' social functioning. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

An open-label trial of citalopram for major depression in patients with hepatitis C

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C affects nearly 4 million Americans. Depression is a common comorbid condition in this population and may be induced by interferon alfa, an approved treatment for hepatitis C. Depression is a major indicator for discontinuation of interferon therapy. This open-label study examines the effect of citalopram on measures of depression and quality of life and tests of liver function in subjects with hepatitis C and major depressive disorder. METHOD: Subjects were recruited by advertisement; those with DSM-IV major depressive disorder were included in the study. Subjects received citalopram for 8 weeks starting at 20 mg/day. Dosage adjustments were made as the physicians deemed clinically necessary. No dosages were increased prior to week 4 of the study. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) scores, Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness scale (CGI-S) scores, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) ratings, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) scores, and liver function tests were obtained at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients (10 men, 5 women) participated in this study. The mean daily dose of citalopram at endpoint was 26.67 mg. Mean HAM-D scores decreased significantly with treatment (F = 36.3, df = 2,42; p = .0001). Thirteen of the 15 subjects demonstrated a clinical response, defined as a 50% or greater reduction in HAM-D scores. CGI-Severity of Illness scores also improved significantly (p = .0001). Subjects demonstrated statistically significant improvement (p < .05) on all of the SF-36 subscales. Statistically significant improvements (p < .05) were also demonstrated on all subscales of the SCL-90-R. Tests of liver function showed no significant worsening of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, or gamma-glutamyltransferase levels. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that depression in patients with hepatitis C may be effectively and safely treated with citalopram.     

Alexithymia in Parkinson's disease is related to severity of depressive symptoms

The authors investigated the possible relationship between depression and alexithymia in a population of hospitalized patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD). Fifty-eight PD patients without dementia participated in the study. Alexithymia was screened using the 20 item version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS 20). Depression was diagnosed using a Structured Clinical Interview (SCID I) for DSM-IV. Severity of depression was evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The prevalence of Alexithymia was about 21%. PD patients with major depression were significantly more alexithymic (TAS 20 average score = 61.4) than PD patients without depression (TAS 20 average score = 47.4) and, also, tended to be more alexithymic than PD patients with minor depression (MiD; TAS 20 average score =50.6), whereas no difference was found between PD patients with MiD and PD patients without depression. Moreover, high scores obtained on the BDI were found to strongly predict high level of alexithymia in these patients. These results extend to a cohort of PD patients previous data from the literature evidencing a strong association between alexithymia and severity of depressive symptoms.     

Psychopathological constellation in patients with PNES: A new hypothesis

Depression symptoms have often reported in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), although the underlying psychopathological symptomatology has been poorly understood. Our aim was to compare constellations of psychological and behavioral disturbance in PNES with respect to patients with mild-major depressive disorder (MDD), hypothesizing that the construct of depression might be different in the two groups.Ten patients with PNES and ten sex-/age-matched patients with mild-MDD newly-diagnosed, were enrolled in this study. A wide neuropsychiatric battery was employed including the following: symptoms checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R), Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20), Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA), Beck depression inventory (BDI II), dissociative experiences scale (DES), traumatic experience checklist (TEC), somatoform dissociation questionnaire (SDQ-20), and temperament and character inventory-revised (TCI-R).No significant difference was detected in the large part of psychopathological examination including personality profile between the two groups. However, PNES showed high scores in alexithymia (p = 0.02); anxiety (p = 0.03), and somatoform symptomatology (p's < 0.03) with respect to patients with mild-MDD. Moreover, somatoform symptoms strongly correlated with depression scores in both groups, whereas alexithymia was influenced by high anxiety level only in the group with PNES. No significant relationship was found between traumatic experience (as measured by TEC) and construct of depression.Our proof-of-concept study suggests that patients with PNES are characterized by their inability to verbalize emotions when dealing with anxiety symptoms, therefore expressing them in a somatic dimension. Further researches, including the investigation of the relationship between anxiety status and emotional expression, are warranted to better understand the pathogenesis of PNES.     

Psychopathology, depression and dissociative experiences in patients with lichen simplex chronicus

OBJECTIVE: Psychogenic factors may play a contributory role in the development or persistence of lichen simplex chronicus (LSC). The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychiatric profile of patients with LSC including depression and dissociative experiences. METHOD: Dermatology outpatients with a LSC (n=30) were compared with outpatients with tinea in which psychological factors are regarded as negligible (n=30). All subjects were given psychiatric scales including the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Dissociative Experience Scale (DES). RESULTS: All mean SCL-90 scores for general psychopathology were higher in the LSC compared to the control group. HAM-D and DES scores were significantly higher in the LSC group (P<.05) as well. In addition, the number of patients whose total DES score of 30 and above was higher in the LSC group. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric symptoms appear relatively common among patients with LSC. Further research is needed to confirm the possible role of dissociative tendencies in the etiology of LSC.     

神经症和抑郁障碍患者的述情障碍及相关因素研究

目的探讨神经症和抑郁障碍患者的述情障碍及影响因素。方法对57例神经症和抑郁障碍患者运用多伦多述情障碍量表(TAS)进行评定，并与常模进行比较。结果神经症和抑郁障碍患者存在明显的述情障碍，TAS总分及各因子分明显高于常模，男女之间无显著性差异，多元回归分析进入方程的是SCL-90躯体化因子和焦虑因子。结论正确评定神经症和郁郁障碍患者的述情障碍及影响因素，具有重要的临床现实意义，对采用适当的心理治疗提供依据。     

Do changes on MCMI-II personality disorder scales in short-term psychotherapy reflect trait or state changes?

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) has become an important and commonly used instrument to assess personality functioning. Several studies report significant changes on MCMI personality disorder scales after psychological treatment. The aim of the study was to investigate whether pre-post-treatment changes in 39-session psychodynamic group psychotherapy as measured with the MCMI reflect real personality change or primarily reflect symptomatic state changes. Pre-post-treatment design included 236 psychotherapy outpatients. Personality changes were measured on the MCMI-II and symptomatic state changes on the Symptom Check List 90-R (SCL-90-R). The MCMI Schizoid, Avoidant, Self-defeating, and severe personality disorder scales revealed substantial changes, which could be predicted from changes on SCL-90-R global symptomatology (GSI) and on the SCL-90-R Depression scale. The MCMI Dependent personality score was the only MCMI personality scale showing significant change when the SCL-90-R Depression change score was included as a covariate. Splitting patients into those with and without personality disorders did not change the results. Observed changes on MCMI-II personality disorder scales in short-term psychotherapy reflect change in symptomatic state. The MCMI-II Base Rate cut-off points probably include too many patients, justifying the introduction of new scoring procedures in the MCMI-III.     

Mørder,notitser og personalia

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) has become an important and commonly used instrument to assess personality functioning. Several studies report significant changes on MCMI personality disorder scales after psychological treatment. The aim of the study was to investigate whether pre–post-treatment changes in 39-session psychodynamic group psychotherapy as measured with the MCMI reflect real personality change or primarily reflect symptomatic state changes. Pre–post-treatment design included 236 psychotherapy outpatients. Personality changes were measured on the MCMI-II and symptomatic state changes on the Symptom Check List 90-R (SCL-90-R). The MCMI Schizoid, Avoidant, Self-defeating, and severe personality disorder scales revealed substantial changes, which could be predicted from changes on SCL-90-R global symptomatology (GSI) and on the SCL-90-R Depression scale. The MCMI Dependent personality score was the only MCMI personality scale showing significant change when the SCL-90-R Depression change score was included as a covariate. Splitting patients into those with and without personality disorders did not change the results. Observed changes on MCMI-II personality disorder scales in short-term psychotherapy reflect change in symptomatic state. The MCMI-II Base Rate cut-off points probably include too many patients, justifying the introduction of new scoring procedures in the MCMI-III.     

Handedness,alexithymia, and focus laterality as risk factors for psychiatric comorbidity in patients with epilepsy

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of seizure lateralization, handedness, and alexithymia on psychopathology in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. One hundred five patients were included in the study. The Hopkins Symptom Checklist—90 (SCL-90) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26) were used for psychopathological assessment of patients. Handedness was evaluated using Annett’s scale. Among the patients studied were 74 right-handers and 31 left-handers, and 25 alexithymic and 80 nonalexithymic persons. Left-sided foci were observed in 52, and right-sided foci in 53 persons. MANOVA was used for analysis of the interrelationship between nominal fixed factors (handedness, alexithymia, and focus laterality) and the dependent variables SCL-90, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety. MANOVA revealed that alexithymia exerts maximal effect on psychopathological variables, and maximal values of SCL-90 constructs were observed for persons with alexithymia/left-handedness and alexithymia/right-sided seizure focus combinations.     

小组心理护理对躯体形式障碍患者述情障碍的影响

目的:研究小组心理护理对躯体形式障碍患者述情障碍的疗效. 方法:将符合入组标准的躯体形式障碍患者63例随机分为试验组32例和对照组31例,分别对两组患者进行常规药物治疗和护理,且对试验组进行小组心理护理.对完成研究的试验组30例患者和对照组30例患者进行多伦多述情障碍量表(TAS)和临床疗效总评量表(CGI)的测试. 结果:①重复测量的方差分析发现干预因素对TAS因子Ⅰ、因子Ⅱ和因子Ⅳ存在主效应(F=4.291 ～5.844,P＜0.05);时间因素对TAS因子Ⅰ、因子Ⅱ、因子Ⅲ和因子Ⅳ均存在主效应(F=31.283～99.974,P＜0.01);干预因素和时间因素对TAS因子Ⅰ、因子Ⅱ和因子Ⅳ存在交互作用(F =7.815～12.541,P＜0.01).②逐步回归分析显示干预前TAS各因子分数和小组心理护理对TAS因子Ⅰ、因子Ⅱ、因子Ⅳ减少值具有显著的预测作用(Beta值=4.572～13.199,P＜0.01).③试验组疗效(76.7％)优于对照组(50％);多因素Logistic回归分析显示,对躯体形式障碍患者临床疗效影响从大到小的因素分别是:小组心理护理、TAS因子Ⅰ、TAS因子Ⅱ和TAS因子Ⅳ(OR =9.721～1.237). 结论:小组心理护理能够改善躯体形式障碍患者的述情障碍和临床疗效.