Alexithymia in multiple sclerosis: relationship with fatigue and depression.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alexithymia in a sample of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to further evaluate the association between alexithymia and the occurrence of common disabling MS-related symptoms such as fatigue and depression.


METHODS
Fifty-eight relapsing-remitting MS patients treated with interferon (IFN)-beta-1a underwent a complete neurological evaluation, including Expanded Disability Status Scale score assessment. Alexithymia, depressive symptoms and fatigue were assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Fatigue Severity Scale.


RESULTS
Prevalence of alexithymia was 13.8%, with 27.6% of patients presenting borderline alexithymia. Sixty-seven per cent of the patients complained of fatigue while 29.3% of them were depressed. Higher levels of fatigue and depression were found in alexithymic patients when compared with non-alexithymic patients. Results from logistic regressions showed that alexithymia significantly contributes to the severity of fatigue and depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Alexithymia was associated with increased severity of fatigue and depression.
Bodini
B
B
Department of Neurological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Mandarelli
G
G
Tomassini
V
V
Tarsitani
L
L
Pestalozza
I
I
Gasperini
C
C
Lenzi
G L
GL
Pancheri
P
P
Pozzilli
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept