[Alexithymia and negative emotions in cancer patients: Mediating effects of intrusive thoughts]

To explore associations of negative emotions with alexithymia and intrusive thoughts in cancer patients.
 Methods: A total of 115 cancer patients were assessed by Impact of Event Scale-Revised, the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the state anxiety subscales of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
 Results: Negative emotions were positively correlated with alexithymia and the intrusive thoughts (r 0.251 to 0.600, P<0.01). Intrusive thoughts were significantly associated with the total score of alexithymia, difficulty in identifying feelings, and difficulty in describing feelings (r 0.261 to 0.430, P<0.01). The relation between alexithymia and negative emotions was partially mediated by intrusive thoughts, accounting for 40.71% of the alexithymia in total negative emotions.
 Conclusion: Intrusive thoughts play a role, at least partially in mediation of alexithymia and negative emotions.