Prevalence and Characteristics of Alexithymia in Parkinson's Disease

Costa, Alberto; Peppe, Antonella; Carlesimo, Giovanni Augusto; Salamone, Giovanna; Caltagirone, Carlo

doi:10.1176/appi.psy.51.1.22

Cited by 36 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Postmortem studies have demonstrated dopaminergic projections in both the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the anterior insular cortex (AIC; both are located in the prefrontal cortex) and the presence of dopamine type-2 receptors (D2 receptors) in both regions 43,44. The association of alexithymia and dopaminergic dysfunction may be more pronounced when taken together with studies that show a high level of alexithymia in neurological disorders associated with dopaminergic dysfunction such as Parkinson’s disease 45. In a study investigating alexithymia measured by TAS-20, D2 receptor binding potency of ACC and AIC in healthy volunteers was reported to be positively correlated with the TAS-20 total score 46.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of alexithymia and levels of anxiety and depression among patients with restless legs syndrome

Yılmaz¹,

Şengül²,

Şengül³

et al. 2018

NDT

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PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine alexithymia among restless legs syndrome (RLS) patients, compare with healthy controls, and argue the clinical inferences of this relationship. We searched for anxiety and depression and their clinical outcomes among patients and searched whether the results are similar to previous studies.Patients and methodsEighty-seven RLS patients and 88 age, gender, and educationally matched healthy controls were assessed in Bezmialem Foundation University Hospital. RLS patients and healthy controls were assessed with the Sociodemographic Data Form constructed for the present study, 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS). The patient group was also assessed with the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) RLS Severity Scale.ResultsRLS patients were found to have greater TAS-20, BDI, and BAS scores compared with the control group (P < 0.05). RLS severity score was positively correlated with the scores of anxiety and depression scales. However, no significant relationship was found between scores of IRLSSG RLS scale and TAS-20 total and subscale scores.ConclusionRLS patients were found to be more alexithymic than healthy controls, whereas no significant relationship was found between RLS severity and levels of alexithymia. Still, alexithymia might be a predictor for early diagnosis and may be considered in the treatment and follow-up of RLS. RLS patients have higher depression and anxiety scores than healthy individuals. Thus, depression and anxiety should be taken into consideration throughout the RLS treatment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of alexithymia and levels of anxiety and depression among patients with restless legs syndrome

Yılmaz¹,

Şengül²,

Şengül³

et al. 2018

NDT

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“…Work with these populations represents a means to examine the role of developmental or late-acquired language disruption on alexithymia and emotion processing more broadly. In addition, in exploring the literature on neurodegenerative conditions for this review, we noted the increased rates of alexithymia in HIV (Bogdanova, Diaz-Santos, & Cronin-Golomb, 2010), multiple sclerosis (Prochnow et al, 2011), and Parkinson's Disease (Costa, Peppe, Carlesimo, Salamone, & Caltagirone, 2010). While language has received little study in these conditions, there is evidence that language processes are disrupted in multiple sclerosis (Friend et al, 1999;Lethlean & Murdoch, 1997;Prakash, Snook, Lewis, Motl, & Kramer, 2008) and in HIV (Chan, Kandiah, & Chua, 2012;McCabe, Sheard, & Code, 2007;Woods et al, 2006;Woods, Moore, Weber, & Grant, 2009).…”

Section: Challenges To the Study Of Language And Alexithymia And Outsmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Role of Language in Alexithymia: Moving Towards a Multiroute Model of Alexithymia

et al. 2019

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Alexithymia is characterized by difficulty identifying and describing one’s own emotion. Identifying and describing one’s emotion involves several cognitive processes, so alexithymia may result from a number of impairments. Here we propose the alexithymia language hypothesis—the hypothesis that language impairment can give rise to alexithymia—and critically review relevant evidence from healthy populations, developmental disorders, adult-onset illness, and acquired brain injury. We conclude that the available evidence is supportive of the alexithymia–language hypothesis, and therefore that language impairment may represent one of multiple routes to alexithymia. Where evidence is lacking, we outline which approaches will be useful in testing this hypothesis.

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“…Elevated rates of alexithymia are seen in a number of disorders including schizophrenia, 103, 104 eating disorders, 105, 106 Parkinson's disease 107, 108 and social anxiety. 109 Interestingly, deficits of emotional processing, including problems in recognizing the emotions of others, are also seen in many of these conditions (for example, Parkinson's Disease, 110 Schizophrenia, 111 alcohol abuse, 112 eating disorders 113 and social anxiety 114 ).…”

Section: Extending the Argument?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mixed emotions: the contribution of alexithymia to the emotional symptoms of autism

2013

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It is widely accepted that autism is associated with disordered emotion processing and, in particular, with deficits of emotional reciprocity such as impaired emotion recognition and reduced empathy. However, a close examination of the literature reveals wide heterogeneity within the autistic population with respect to emotional competence. Here we argue that, where observed, emotional impairments are due to alexithymia—a condition that frequently co-occurs with autism—rather than a feature of autism per se. Alexithymia is a condition characterized by a reduced ability to identify and describe one's own emotion, but which results in reduced empathy and an impaired ability to recognize the emotions of others. We briefly review studies of emotion processing in alexithymia, and in autism, before describing a recent series of studies directly testing this ‘alexithymia hypothesis'. If found to be correct, the alexithymia hypothesis has wide-reaching implications for the study of autism, and how we might best support subgroups of autistic individuals with, and without, accompanying alexithymia. Finally, we note the presence of elevated rates of alexithymia, and inconsistent reports of emotional impairments, in eating disorders, schizophrenia, substance abuse, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis and anxiety disorders. We speculate that examining the contribution of alexithymia to the emotional symptoms of these disorders may bear fruit in the same way that it is starting to do in autism.

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Prevalence and Characteristics of Alexithymia in Parkinson's Disease

Cited by 36 publications

References 41 publications

Investigation of alexithymia and levels of anxiety and depression among patients with restless legs syndrome

Investigation of alexithymia and levels of anxiety and depression among patients with restless legs syndrome

The Role of Language in Alexithymia: Moving Towards a Multiroute Model of Alexithymia

Mixed emotions: the contribution of alexithymia to the emotional symptoms of autism

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