Alexithymia in long-term survivors of childhood cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence of alexithymia (difficulties in describing or recognizing one's own emotions, a limited fantasy life, and general constriction in the affective life) in a group of childhood cancer survivors and to explore medical determinants which predict alexithymia.


METHODS
Five years after completing therapy, 72 participants were asked to complete the Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ).


RESULTS
Male cancer survivors scored significantly lower on overall alexithymia compared to healthy males. They also showed higher ability to fantasize, a higher emotional arousal, and were better able to verbalize their emotional reactions. The female survivors did not show differences compared to the normal female population. No medical determinant was associated with alexithymia.


CONCLUSIONS
Stress due to childhood cancer does not affect the alexithymia scores of females. However, male cancer survivors score less alexithymic than age matched controls.
Psychosocial Department, Academic Medical Center, G8-224, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Marieke
M
van Dijk
Martha A
MA
Grootenhuis
Marieke
M
de Boer
Bob
B
Bermond
Bob F
BF
Last
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology*; D001143:Arousal; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D017741:Survivors