Alexithymia in primary ciliary dyskinesia

Recent evidence suggests that alexithymic deficits in emotional processing may also affect physical health, and alexithymia may also be associated with organic disorders. The emotional well-being of patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is often negatively affected by uncertainty about the prognosis, lack of ongoing medical care, and lack of symptom control. This study aims to evaluate the frequency of alexithymia and its possible impact on the management of childhood PCD.

Subjects were recruited from patients with PCD and healthy volunteers aged 8-18 years. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics and self-report scales. Data were compared between patient and control groups.

In the >14 years of age group, the total Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) score was significantly higher in the patients (56.60 ± 13.01) compared to the control group (46.47 ± 7.50) (p = .007). There were 6 (30) patients with a TAS-20 score ≥61. There was a significant correlation between TAS-20 and Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) score (child), but no correlation between TAS-20 and Kovacs Children Depression Inventory (CDI) and PedsQL score (parents). The TAS-20 score was significantly higher in patients with bronchiectasis (p = .035), nasal polyps (p = .045), and siblings with PCD (p = .001). Furthermore, the TAS-20 score had a significant negative correlation with pulmonary function tests.

Although this study is based on limited data from a single center and cannot be generalized to all PCD patient communities, our results show that PCD patients are more likely to have alexithymia compared to healthy controls and highlight the need to evaluate for alexithymia in patients with PCD. It is important for pediatric pulmonologists to have a thorough knowledge of the alexithymic features associated with PCD and to refer patients to pediatric psychiatry when necessary, especially in patients who are noncompliant with treatment protocols.