[Alexithymia and suicide risk among patients with schizophrenia: preliminary findings of a cross-sectional study]
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Social Threat-Safety Test Uncovers Psychosocial Stress-Related Phenotypes
Published on: December 15, 2023
Viviana Marasco1, Domenico De Berardis, Nicola Serroni
1Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Servizio Psichiatrico Diagnosi e Cura, Ospedale Civile G. Mazzini, ASL Teramo.
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of alexithymia and its relationships with psychopathological features and suicide risk in a sample of adult patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.
Methods:
A mixed male-female sample of 60 subjects (30 males and 30 females) was evaluated with the following rating scales: Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
Results:
22 subjects (36.7%) were categorized as alexithymic (TAS-20 scores > or =61). Alexithymics showed more severe negative and depressive symptoms and increased suicide risk than non alexithymics. However, the results of a linear regression with SSI score as dependent variable showed that Difficulty in Identifying and Describing Feelings dimensions of TAS-20 and higher CDSS scores were significantly associated with higher scores on the Scale for Suicide Ideation.
Conclusions:
The presence of alexithymia in schizophrenia may be related to higher risk of suicide ideation and more severe depressive symptoms, independently by the severity of positive and negative symptoms. However, results are preliminary and limitations must be considered.
Related Concept Videos
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
