Alexithymia in Chronic Bronchitis/Emphysema: Personality Characteristics and Illness Attitudes

Abstract

Personality characteristics and illness attitudes of alexithymic and nonalexithymic chronic bronchitis/emphysema patients were assessed using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) along with supplementary scales and the Respiratory Illness Opinion Survey (RIOS). Two validity scales, three clinical scales and one supplementary scale from the MMPI along with one illness attitude category from the RIOS discriminated alexithymic and nonalexithymic patients. These findings are disparate from those observed in an asthmatic population and point to an interplay between illness type and alexithymia in terms of personality and illness attitudes.

Psychological characteristics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A review

“…However, Liesker et al [57] found that even nonhypoxemic COPD patients show significant impairments in cognitive performance. [70] Self-report: MMPI, RIOS N= 96 COPD patients Forty-two alexithymic patients were identified. Compared with nonalexi thymic patients, alexithymics showed a tendency to deny social difficulties and impulses.…”

Prevalence of alexithymia and its association with anxiety and depression in a sample of Greek chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outpatients

“…At the same time they have great difficulty in recognising and describing their emotions [20-22]. Although the role of alexithymia and its association with levels of anxiety and depression has already been recognised in other respiratory diseases, such as bronchial asthma [23], few studies have investigated the possibility that alexithymia may also be prevalent in patients suffering from COPD [24-26]. …”