Alexithymia and body image disturbances in women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate alexithymia and body image in women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and test whether alexithymic traits influence severity of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder or body distress.


METHODS
Sixty-four consecutive women with a DSM-IV diagnosis of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and age range of 18-45 were recruited. Alexithymia was measured with the Italian version 20-items Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Severity of premenstrual mood symptoms was measured through the use of Visual Analogue Scales. Body concerns were assessed with the Body Uneasiness Test, Body Shape Questionnaire and Body Attitude Test. Additional measures were Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Sheehan Disability Scale.


RESULTS
Prevalence of alexithymia in our sample was 31.3% (n=20). Alexithymics showed higher scores on all rating scales (p range 0.001-< 0.001). Difficulty in Identifying Feelings and Difficulty in Describing Feelings subscales of Toronto Alexithymia Scale were predictors of severity of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in the multiple linear regression analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Alexithymia was associated with more severe Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Alexithymic women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder exhibited significantly poorer appearance evaluation and body satisfaction than non-alexithymic women.
De Berardis
Domenico
D
Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy. dodebera@aliceposta.it
Campanella
Daniela
D
Gambi
Francesco
F
Sepede
Gianna
G
Carano
Alessandro
A
Pelusi
Lucia
L
La Rovere
Raffaella
R
Di Matteo
Danilo
D
Salini
Gabriele
G
Cotellessa
Carla
C
Salerno
Rosa Maria
RM
Ferro
Filippo Maria
FM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires