Somatization and alexithymia in young adult Finnish population.
BACKGROUND
We assessed alexithymia and alexithymic features among young adult subjects with and without somatization symptoms in an epidemiological setting with a sample of young adults.


METHODS
The sample consisted of urban 31-year-old subjects (N=1002). Data on somatization were gathered from a review of all public health outpatient records. Subjects with four or more somatization symptoms according to the DSM-III-R criteria were considered somatizers. The 20-item version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was used to measure alexithymia. Subjects with a total TAS score over 60 were considered as being alexithymic, and those with a score under 52 were considered nonalexithymic. Subjects with a total TAS score from 52 to 60 were considered as having alexithymic features.


RESULTS
The prevalence of alexithymia was 6.0% among somatizers and 4.8% among subjects without somatization symptoms, and the prevalence of alexithymic features was 7.5% and 12.6%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
No association was found between alexithymia and somatization in young adult general population. The earlier theory of the association between alexithymia and somatization may be questionable.
Karvonen
Juha T
JT
Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, FIN-90029 OYS, Oulu, Finland. jkarvone@cc.oulu.fi
Veijola
Juha
J
Kokkonen
Pirkko
P
Läksy
Kristian
K
Miettunen
Jouko
J
Joukamaa
Matti
M
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D015995:Prevalence; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population