Cutaneous body image in psoriasis: The role of attachment style and alexithymia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the contribution of adult attachment style and alexithymia to cutaneous body image in patients with psoriasis while controlling for the confounding effects of disease severity and depressive symptoms. Participants were 107 consecutive patients (60% women) with a diagnosis of plaque-type psoriasis. Cutaneous body dissatisfaction was measured with the Cutaneous Body Image Scale (CBIS) and disease severity with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Depressive symptoms, attachment style and alexithymia were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), respectively. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that, independently from the severity of skin disease and depressive symptoms, patients with an insecure-avoidant attachment style and higher levels of alexithymia reported greater cutaneous body dissatisfaction. Because of the cross-sectional design, the causal relationship between avoidant attachment, alexithymia and cutaneous body image cannot be determined. There was no control group. Clinical assessment of patients with psoriasis should include attachment style and alexithymia among the psychological variables related to cutaneous body dissatisfaction.