The Concept of Alexithymia

Şaşıoğlu, Miray; Gülol, Çağla; Tosun, Ahmet

doi:10.5455/cap.20130531

Cited by 13 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 90 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Alexithymia is not a condition that is only seen in organic, psychiatric, or psychosomatic diseases. Alexithymic features may also be seen in general population 17,18. Various studies reported the prevalence of alexithymia (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale [TAS-20] total score, ≥61) to be between 12% and 18%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Yılmaz¹,

Şengül²,

Şengül³

et al. 2018

NDT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Yılmaz¹,

Şengül²,

Şengül³

et al. 2018

NDT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The biomarkers of urea, creatinine, hemoglobin, hematocrit, albumin, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and C-reactive protein (CRP) values of the subjects who participate in the study were evaluated. The median number of medications used by the patients on a daily basis was three (min-max: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Normally deviating values were determined and the relationship between the HSS, HSS subscales, TAS-20, and TAS-20 subscale scores was assessed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6 Alexithymic behavior patterns observed in patients have been defined as: nervousness, short temperedness, touchiness, introversion, loss of interest and desire, loss of hope for the future, distress, anxiety and emotional deprivation as a result of these. 5,7 Feelings such as fear, anger, and sorrow in alexithymic individuals create a loss in persuasive properties and may cause individuals to mask their emotions in some way. 8 It has been observed that alexithymia studies in the literature are primarily concentrated on psychiatric diseases.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Selected Biomarkers on Stress and Alexithymia in Patients Under Hemodialysis Treatment

Tayaz

Koç

2019

Yonago Acta Med.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Hemodialysis treatment and the high stress brought about by the treatment are the circumstances which set the background for alexithymia. Alexithymic feelings basically emerge as restriction in the world of emotion and thought, and the inability to recognize physiological changes. Biomarkers that are indicators of physical change are influential in the stress lives of individuals. This research was carried out to discover the relationships between, and to determine the influence of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, hemoglobin, hematocrit, albumin, calcium, phosphorus and C-reactive protein biomarkers on stress and alexithymia in individuals, who are diagnosed with chronic renal failure and receive hemodialysis treatment. Methods The research environment was formed of patients who underwent hemodialysis treatment in a hospital in Turkey. The subject group was comprised of 72 individuals. Demographic data form, biomarker list form, Hemodialysis Stressor Scale and Toronto Alexithymia Scale were used in the research. Results It was found that the levels of perceived stress of individuals who participated in the research were high at all dimensions, and 59.7% were alexithymic. The means of the total scale scores of all patients were calculated as 87.81 ± 13.59 for Hemodialysis Stressor Scale and 62.46 ± 9.84 for Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The relationship between the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Hemodialysis Stressor Scale and selected biomarkers were determined (P < 0.05). Conclusion It was concluded that stress and alexithymic feelings were high in patients who received hemodialysis treatment, and that there is a relationship between C-reactive protein, creatinine, sodium, hemoglobin, hematocrit, potassium from the biomarkers and the scales and scale sub-dimensions. It is necessary to increase the awareness of nurses on the importance of the skills to communicate with individuals who have to cope with stress, manage emotions, and have high stress and emotional deprivation.

show abstract

“…It should be noticed that, alexithymic signs are not absolutely pathological. They may also be seen in general population to some extent 6,7 . Various research reported the prevalence of alexithymia (TAS-20 total score ≥ 61) to be between 12 and 18%, besides, results about gender differences were contradictory 8,9 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Does psychotherapy improve alexithymia? A comparison study among patients with mild or moderate depression

Yılmaz

Mirçik

Kunduz

et al. 2019

Arch. Clin. Psychiatry (São Paulo)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Alexithymia is reported to be a risk factor for depression. Psychotherapy is efficient for treatment of depression. Yet, the effect of psychotherapies on alexithymia is poorly understood. Objectives: We aimed to compare Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Psychotherapy (ExP) and Supportive Counseling (SUP) for therapeutic efficacy and effect on alexithymia in depression. Methods: There were 22 patients for each patient group. Sessions were performed as eight consecutive weekly and following two monthly boosters. Sixty six healthy controls were added. Prior to the sessions, patients received Sociodemographic Data Form, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-1), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The control group received Sociodemographic Data Form, SCID-1 and TAS-20. Patients additionally received HDRS and TAS-20 after their weekly and booster sessions. Results: Patients' mean TAS-20 score was greater than of controls, however, it did not have a significant change throughout the study. Mean HDRS scores of ExP and CBT groups were lower than SUP group at the end. Discussion: Alexithymia did not improve with psychotherapy. The exception was effect of ExP on externally oriented thinking. Psychotherapies all improved depression. CBT and ExP were more helpful than SUP.

show abstract

The Concept of Alexithymia

Cited by 13 publications

References 90 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

Influence of Selected Biomarkers on Stress and Alexithymia in Patients Under Hemodialysis Treatment

Does psychotherapy improve alexithymia? A comparison study among patients with mild or moderate depression

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About