Externally Oriented Thinking Predicts Phosphorus Levels in Dialyzed Patients.

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Psychology
• Medical Adherence

Background:

• Alexithymia, characterized by difficulty identifying and expressing emotions, is increasingly recognized for its impact on health behaviors.
• Patient adherence to treatment regimens is crucial for managing chronic conditions like end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between alexithymia scores and biological markers of treatment adherence in patients undergoing dialysis.
• To test the hypothesis that higher alexithymia scores correlate with lower adherence to dialysis treatment.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-four adult patients on dialysis completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20).
• Biological markers of adherence, including phosphorus, creatinine, and serum uric acid, were measured.
• Correlation and stepwise regression analyses were performed to assess relationships.

Main Results:

• A positive correlation was observed between phosphorus levels and TAS-F2 (P=0.04) and a negative correlation with TAS-F3 (P=0.02).
• Stepwise regression analysis indicated that TAS-F3 (external-oriented thinking) significantly predicted phosphorus levels (P=0.02).
• The model explained 8% of the variance in adherence markers.

Conclusions:

• External-oriented thinking, a facet of alexithymia, can predict a biological marker of treatment adherence in dialyzed patients.
• These findings highlight the potential role of psychological factors in managing adherence to dialysis therapy.