Insight and alexithymia in adult outpatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the relationships between insight and alexithymia in a sample of adult outpatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).


METHODS
112 adult outpatients with OCD were tested. Severity of OCD was assessed with the first 10-items of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and score for item # 11 on the Y-BOCS was considered as a measure of insight. Alexithymia was measured with 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Additional measures were Maudsley Hospital Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) and Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).


RESULTS
Of the patients, 29.5% showed poor or no insight. Patients with poor or no insight were more alexithymic than patients with excellent, good and moderate insight. TAS-20 total score and subfactors positively correlated with score for item # 11 on the Y-BOCS, severity of OCD and MADRS scores. In stepwise regression model, MADRS scores, factor 3 of TAS-20 (Externally Oriented Thinking), somatic and hoarding-saving obsessions were significantly associated with lower insight.


CONCLUSIONS
Results show a relationship between poor or absent insight and high alexithymia levels in OCD patients.
De Berardis
Domenico
D
Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, University G.D'Annunzio of Chieti Palazzina SE.BI., Scuole di Specializzazione, via dei Vestini, 31, 66013, Chieti, Italy. dodebera@aliceposta.it
Campanella
Daniela
D
Gambi
Francesco
F
Sepede
Gianna
G
Salini
Gabriele
G
Carano
Alessandro
A
La Rovere
Raffaella
R
Pelusi
Lucia
L
Penna
Laura
L
Cicconetti
Alessandra
A
Cotellessa
Carla
C
Salerno
Rosa Maria
RM
Ferro
Filippo Maria
FM
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D010045:Outpatients; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics