[Alexithymic features and emotional distress in patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) and medication-overuse headache (MOH)].
OBJECTIVE
The study examined the role of alexythimia and emotional distress in patients with diagnosis of chronic headaches (tension-type and medication overuse headache).


METHODS
The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)and the Rapid Stress Assessment (RSA) were administered to a sample of 104 patients (day hospital and outpatients) composed by 70 with CTTH and 34 with MOH.


RESULTS
In total sample, 16.3% of patients were classified as alexithymics, 20.2% as intermediates and 63.5% as non-alexithymics, according to the TAS-20 criteria. Anxiety and Lack of social support (RSA) showed the higher values, yet the RSA mean profile didn't exceed the normative range. Alexithymics scored higher on all the RSA scales; significant positive correlations were also obtained among RSA and TAS-20 values. MOH patients were more frequently classifi ed as alexithymics and reported higher values on Aggressiveness scale (RSA) compared to CCTH patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings supported a link between alexithymia and emotional distress, as an index of psychological maladjustment in chronic headache patients.
Pini
M
M
UF SerT ASL 6 di Livorno e Cattedra di Psicologia dello Sviluppo, Università di Pisa, Italia. mau.pini@tiscali.it
De Filippis
S
S
Farinelli
I
I
Martelletti
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000374:Aggression; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D051271:Headache Disorders, Secondary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*