Alexithymia in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is related to depression and not to somatic variables or compliance.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of alexithymia in insulin-dependent diabetic mellitus (IDDM) outpatients. To examine whether alexithymia is associated with diabetic somatic variables, depression, and compliance.


METHODS
Our sample comprised 69 diabetic outpatients followed in a university hospital. We assessed the prevalence of alexithymia (26-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-26) and the relationships among alexithymia, depression (13-item Beck Depression Inventory, BDI-13), somatic diabetic variables (glycosylated hemoglobin, number of mild or severe hypoglycemia, somatic complications), and compliance (observer-rater scale completed by diabetologist).


RESULTS
The prevalence of alexithymia in IDDM patients was low (14.4%). Alexithymia and depression, as measured by TAS-26 and BDI-13 scores, respectively, correlated with each other. Alexithymia was not correlated with glycemic control, somatic complications, or compliance.


CONCLUSIONS
In our sample, alexithymia was related to depression and not to somatic factors or compliance.
Friedman
S
S
Clinique des Maladies Mentales et de l'Encéphale (CMME), Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Universi;té René Descartes Paris V, UFR Cochin Port-Royal, 1 rue Cabanis, 75674 Paris Cedex 14, France. friedman.serge@free.fr
Vila
G
G
Even
C
C
Timsit
J
J
Boitard
C
C
Dardennes
R
R
Guelfi
J D
JD
Mouren-Simeoni
M C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents