Alexithymia and chronic pain: prevalence, correlates and treatment results

The alexithymia scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory was used to determine the prevalence of alexithymia in a group of 60 patients attending a chronic pain clinic. It was found that 28 patients (47%) obtained scores in the 'alexithymic' range. The alexithymic patients had a significantly longer history of pain, but were not significantly older than the nonalexithymic group. Alexithymic patients showed significantly lower neuroticism, hypochondriasis, affective disturbance, and irritability scores. In a pilot study two subgroups of 15 alexithymic and 15 non-alexithymic patients were compared following a period of treatment; in both groups equal proportions of patients showed significant pain relief. Although this study does not support the view that alexithymia is of significance in the psychomaintenance of chronic pain, it is suggested that clinicians working with chronic pain patients should be familiar with the concept of alexithymia.