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Alexithymia in chronic pain patients
M A Lumley1, L A Asselin, S Norman
1Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
Comprehensive Psychiatry
|May 1, 1997
Summary
Chronic pain patients exhibit higher alexithymia, the inability to identify and describe emotions. This finding, using validated measures, suggests alexithymia may contribute to chronic pain and associated psychopathology.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Pain Medicine
Background:
- Previous research on alexithymia in chronic pain used unvalidated tools or didn't account for treatment-seeking status.
- Alexithymia is characterized by difficulties in identifying and describing emotions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare alexithymia levels in chronic pain patients versus those seeking treatment for nicotine dependence or obesity.
- To investigate the relationship between alexithymia, chronic pain, and psychopathology using validated measures.
Main Methods:
- Employed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) and Alexithymia Provoked Response Questionnaire (APRQ) to assess alexithymia.
- Compared chronic pain patients (n=30) with nicotine-dependent (n=32) and obese (n=25) patients seeking treatment.
- Utilized the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) to assess psychopathology.
Main Results:
- Chronic pain patients scored significantly higher on both alexithymia measures compared to the other groups.
- No significant difference in alexithymia was found between nicotine-dependent and obese patients.
- Chronic pain patients exhibited greater psychopathology, with alexithymia measures correlating positively with certain psychopathological traits.
Conclusions:
- Alexithymia is elevated in chronic pain patients, independent of treatment-seeking status.
- Alexithymia may play a role in the development or maintenance of chronic pain.
- The findings suggest a potential link between alexithymia, chronic pain, and comorbid psychopathology.