Controlled study of alexithymic characteristics in patients with psychogenic pain disorder.
Alexithymic characteristics were examined in a sample of 30 patients fulfilling the DSM-III criteria for psychogenic pain disorder using an interviewer-rated scale (Beth Israel Hospital Psychosomatic Questionnaire), a self-rated scale (Toronto Alexithymia Scale) and a projective technique (Thematic Apperception Test). The findings were compared with a control group of healthy subjects matched on sociodemographic variables. Pain patients were found to be more alexithymic in contrast to the control group as evidenced by the interviewer-rated and self-rated scales. The correlations among the three measures were in the expected direction.
Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
T G
TG
Sriram
S K
SK
Chaturvedi
P S
PS
Gopinath
V
V
Shanmugam
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors