Alexithymia in multiple sclerosis

[Thomas]

Alexithymia in multiple sclerosis: relationship with fatigue and depression.

Bodini B, Mandarelli G, Tomassini V, Tarsitani L, Pestalozza I, Gasperini C, Lenzi GL, Pancheri P, Pozzilli C.

Department of Neurological Sciences, ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome, Italy.

Objective - The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alexithymia in a sample of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to further evaluate the association between alexithymia and the occurrence of common disabling MS-related symptoms such as fatigue and depression. Methods - Fifty-eight relapsing-remitting MS patients treated with interferon (IFN)-beta-1a underwent a complete neurological evaluation, including Expanded Disability Status Scale score assessment. Alexithymia, depressive symptoms and fatigue were assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Fatigue Severity Scale. Results - Prevalence of alexithymia was 13.8%, with 27.6% of patients presenting borderline alexithymia. Sixty-seven per cent of the patients complained of fatigue while 29.3% of them were depressed. Higher levels of fatigue and depression were found in alexithymic patients when compared with non-alexithymic patients. Results from logistic regressions showed that alexithymia significantly contributes to the severity of fatigue and depression. Conclusions - Alexithymia was associated with increased severity of fatigue and depression.

PMID: 18162056 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Pubmed - Alexithymia in multiple sclerosis: relationship with fatigue and depression.

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