The Connection between Alexithymia and Somatic Morbidity in a Population of Combat Veterans with Chronic PTSD

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate the connection between alexithymia and somatic illness, or, somatization, in veterans suffering from chronic combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD.MethodsCroatian combat veterans (N=127) were studied at the Department of Psychology, Zagreb Clinical Hospital Center. The diagnosis of PTSD was confirmed and verified according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). A version of the Mississippi Scale for Combat Related PTSD (M-PTSD) standardized for the Croatian population was used to assess the severity of PTSD. In addition to the clinical interview, the existence of alexithymia was confirmed by the score on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TA S-20).ResultsA statistically significant association was found between the total number of diagnosed physical illnesses and the scores on three subscales of an alexithymia questionnaire, the TA S-20, with a 1% risk (p<0.01, 0.487; 0.450; 0.335). Regression analysis confirmed the most statistically significant predictive value of the first item of the TA S-20, which refers to difficulty in identifying feelings (=0.408, p=0.019). The total score on the M-PTSD scale correlated significantly to the subscales for alexithymia. There was a statistically significant negative correlation of the total score on the M-PTSD scale with social support.ConclusionThe total scores obtained in this study, particularly those related to alexithymia, indicate the importance of this construct in the etiopathogenesis of somatic morbidity in the study population and confirm that as in other countries the TA S-20 is a useful instrument in Croatia for the assessment of this phenomenon.

‘Too many BeEPs in our teens!’ Behavioral and emotional problems in a large group of Italian adolescents

“…In our sample, boys scored higher than girls on somatic and externalizing problems: these two symptoms' group may have a common underpinning in males based on alexithymia, that may help to explain such association. Alexithymia has been shown to be associated with somatic complaints in clinical and non-clinical samples (Bach & Bach, 1996; Kusevic et al, 2013; Lundh & Simonsson-Sarnecki, 2001; Taycan, Ozdemir, & Erdogan Taycan, 2017; Taylor, Parker, Bagby, & Acklin, 1992). Because of the inability to communicate their feelings, people with high alexithymia are prone to communicate through their bodily sensations.…”

Somatoform dissociation and posttraumatic stress syndrome – two sides of the same medal? A comparison of symptom profiles, trauma history and altered affect regulation between patients with functional neurological symptoms and patients with PTSD

“…A recent study by Terock and colleagues reported alexithymia as predictor of adult psychoform dissociative symptoms independent of the effects of PTSD and childhood trauma [ 32 ]. Furthermore, alexithymia was found to predict suicidal attempt in veterans diagnosed with PTSD [ 33 ].…”

Toronto Alexithymia Scale: Adaptation of the Brazilian Version to Low-Educated Adults

“…Alexithymia has been found in patients suffering chronic pain with no identifiable cause, including patients with fibromyalgia (van Middendorp et al, 2008), depression and psychosomatic illnesses (Kusevic et al, 2013), high blood pressure, Crohn's disease, psychiatric patients (panic and anxiety disorders, depression), and those with kidney and rheumatic diseases (Marchesi et al, 2013;Sayar, Kirmayer, & Taillefer, 2004;Silva, Freitas, Moreira, Santos, & Almeida, 2016;Di Tella & Castelli, 2016). However, the prevalence of alexithymia has also been found to be as high as 7% among the general population (Steinweg, Dallas, & Rea, 2011) without any link to specific disorders (Cox, Kuch, Parker, Shulman, & Evans, 1994;Praceres et al, 2000;Yoshida, 2000Yoshida, , 2007.…”