title: Alexithymia in multiple sclerosis: relationship with fatigue and depression.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bodini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mandarelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tomassini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tarsitani
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pestalozza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasperini
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pancheri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzilli
mesh_terms: 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