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Chronic pain patients with and without alexithymia.
1Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, India.
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie
|December 1, 1988
Summary
Chronic pain patients with alexithymia (difficulty identifying and describing emotions) reported more physical illnesses. This suggests alexithymia may influence psychopathology in chronic pain.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Pain Medicine
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Alexithymia is characterized by difficulty identifying and expressing emotions.
- Chronic pain is a complex condition influenced by psychological factors.
- Previous research has not consistently differentiated chronic pain patients based on alexithymia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare chronic pain patients with and without alexithymia.
- To investigate the relationship between alexithymia, physical illness, and psychopathology in chronic pain.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study design was employed.
- Demographic variables, pain characteristics, and psychiatric diagnoses were assessed.
- Patients were categorized based on the presence or absence of alexithymia.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in demographic variables or pain characteristics between groups.
- Alexithymic chronic pain patients reported a higher prevalence of associated physical illness (P < 0.05).
- A low number of alexithymic patients received a psychiatric diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Alexithymia in chronic pain patients is associated with increased physical illness.
- Verbal inexpressivity linked to alexithymia may inhibit the development of psychopathology.
- Marked alexithymia might contribute to a lower observed level of psychopathology in chronic pain patients.