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Alexithymia in patients with coronary heart disease

M Valkamo1, J Hintikka, K Honkalampi

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 1777, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
|April 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Alexithymia in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients is linked to depression and low life satisfaction, not cardiovascular factors. These patients may require tailored psychosocial support.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychosomatic Medicine

Background:

  • Alexithymia, characterized by difficulty identifying and expressing emotions, is increasingly recognized in cardiovascular disease populations.
  • Understanding the psychosocial correlates of alexithymia in coronary heart disease (CHD) is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the factors associated with alexithymia in patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease (CHD).
  • To determine the relationship between alexithymia and demographic, psychological, and clinical variables in a CHD cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) to assess alexithymia in 153 CHD patients.
  • Employed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression, Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90) for psychiatric symptoms, and Structured Clinical Interview (SCID I and II) for mental disorders.
  • Collected data one day prior to coronary angiography.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-one percent of CHD patients (n=32) exhibited alexithymia.
  • Alexithymic patients were more frequently blue-collar workers, unable to work, dissatisfied with life, and depressed.
  • Logistic regression identified blue-collar work history (AOR: 4.8), self-rated depression (AOR: 3.2), and life dissatisfaction (AOR: 2.9) as independent predictors of alexithymia.

Conclusions:

  • Alexithymia in CHD patients is associated with psychological factors like depression and low life satisfaction, rather than cardiovascular risk factors or exercise capacity.
  • Alexithymia contributes to an increased psychosocial burden in individuals with CHD.
  • This patient subgroup may benefit from specialized psychosocial interventions and individualized support.
Abstract

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