Alexithymia in chronic pain patients.
Prior studies of alexithymia in chronic pain patients have used unvalidated alexithymia measures or have not controlled for treatment-seeking status. In this study, we compared 30 patients with chronic pain and patients seeking treatment for two other problems: nicotine dependence (n = 32) or moderate obesity (n = 25). Alexithymia was assessed with the well-validated Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) and also with the Alexithymia Provoked Response Questionnaire (APRQ). On both alexithymia measures, chronic pain patients were more alexithymic than nicotine-dependent and obese patients; the latter two groups did not differ. Chronic pain patients had greater psychopathology on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), and both alexithymia measures correlated positively with certain types of psychopathology. We conclude that alexithymia is increased among patients with chronic pain, that this relationship is not confounded by a treatment-seeking bias, and that alexithymia may contribute to both chronic pain and psychopathology.
Lumley
M A
MA
Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
Asselin
L A
LA
Norman
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology