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Alexithymia and psychopathology in patients with psychiatric and functional gastrointestinal disorders.
- Source :
-
Psychotherapy and psychosomatics [Psychother Psychosom] 2004 Mar-Apr; Vol. 73 (2), pp. 84-91. - Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- Background: Alexithymia and psychopathology may influence the way individuals experience psychological distress and somatic symptoms. This study evaluated patients referred to psychiatric and gastroenterologic outpatient settings in order to investigate the levels of alexithymia and psychopathology, and the possible role of alexithymia in symptom perception and health care utilization. The association between psychiatric disorders and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) was also assessed.<br />Methods: Psychopathology (by the Revised 90-item Symptom Checklist), alexithymia (by the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale), and gastrointestinal symptoms (by the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale) were evaluated in 52 psychiatric outpatients and 58 medical outpatients with FGIDs. Two comorbid subgroups of 25 psychiatric patients with FGIDs and 38 FGID patients with psychiatric disorders were formed and compared.<br />Results: Forty-eight percent of the psychiatric patients had associated FGIDs, and 65.5% of the FGID patients had associated psychiatric disorders. The FGID patients had significantly less psychopathology, but significantly higher alexithymia and more severe gastrointestinal symptoms, than the psychiatric patients. In the comparison of the two subgroups with comorbidity, FGID patients with psychiatric disorders were still more alexithymic and had less psychopathology than psychiatric patients with FGIDs, but gastrointestinal symptoms were not significantly different.<br />Conclusion: Patients with 'functional' gastrointestinal symptoms attending a medical care service are likely to be highly alexithymic, whereas those attending a psychiatric care service are likely to show severe psychopathology. Alexithymia seems to influence the presentation of 'functional' somatic symptoms and the type of health care utilization.<br /> (Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Cohort Studies
Comorbidity
Female
Health Services statistics & numerical data
Humans
Incidence
Male
Middle Aged
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Affective Symptoms etiology
Affective Symptoms psychology
Gastrointestinal Diseases complications
Gastrointestinal Diseases psychology
Mental Disorders etiology
Mental Disorders psychology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0033-3190
- Volume :
- 73
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Psychotherapy and psychosomatics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 14767150
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000075539