Are Macedonian chronic patients alexithymic?

Area of Science:

• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychoneuroimmunology

Background:

• Psychological factors significantly influence disease pathogenesis, particularly in stress-related conditions.
• Psychosomatics explores mind-body connections, assessing psychological impacts on physical health and illness development.
• Alexithymia, characterized by difficulty identifying and labeling emotions, is frequently observed in individuals with chronic illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative values for the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) in a healthy Macedonian population.
• To compare alexithymia levels between healthy individuals and patients suffering from various chronic diseases.
• To investigate the role of alexithymia as a potential trigger or consequence in chronic illness.

Main Methods:

• The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was employed as the primary instrument for measuring alexithymia.
• Data were collected from a cohort of healthy Macedonian participants to establish baseline TAS-20 scores.
• Comparative analysis was conducted between the healthy group and cohorts of patients with chronic conditions, including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, dialysis patients, and post-myocardial infarction patients.

Main Results:

• Alexithymia was confirmed as a stable personality trait associated with neurobiological characteristics.
• Patients with chronic diseases demonstrated significantly higher levels of alexithymia compared to healthy individuals.
• Elevated alexithymia was observed across diverse chronic conditions, including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, end-stage renal disease, and cardiovascular disease.

Conclusions:

• Alexithymia is a relevant construct in chronic disease, potentially acting as a precursor or outcome.
• The findings underscore the importance of integrating psychological support for alexithymia into the management of all chronic patients.
• Addressing alexithymia may improve prognosis and patient outcomes in long-term health conditions.