title: Alexithymia and obesity. Study of the impaired symbolic function by the Rorschach test.
abstract: Many authors consider alexithymia a predisposing factor to psychosomatic and somatopsychic pathologies. In this study we investigated the presence of alexithymic characteristics in a group of 106 massive obese patients who requested a surgical intervention. 6 Rorschach alexithymia variables in the protocols of patients and a non-patient reference group (n = 600) were studied. Findings supported the presence of a striking alexithymic element among severely obese patients in comparison with their lean counterparts.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatric Clinic, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albonetti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Penati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Invernizzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012392:Rorschach Test