[Somatization and alexithymia in male infertility. A replication study].
OBJECTIVE
In a previous study, we found a higher degree of alexithymia and somatization in infertile men (Hum Reprod 2001 Vol.16(3),587-592). This study was designed to confirm the findings of the former study


METHODS
88 infertile men (48 idiopathic infertility, 40 somatic infertility) were consecutively enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 44 healthy men. Alexithymia was measured by the 20-item-Toronto-Alexithymia-Scale;somatization was measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-R.


RESULTS
There were no differences between the subgroups of infertile men. The study group showed a significantly higher sum score in the TAS-20 (p<0.01) and a higher score on the scale somatization in the Symptom Checklist-90-R (p<0.05) compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study replicated the findings of the previous investigation. Alexithymia and somatization are discussed as consequences of coping with male infertility.
Conrad
R
R
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie der Universität Bonn.
Schilling
G
G
Hagemann
T
T
Haidl
G
G
Liedtke
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004493:Education; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014944:World Health Organization