[Quality of life and alexithymia in somatoform pain disorder].
BACKGROUND
Patients with somatoform pain disorders (SPD) frequently display reduced quality of life (QoL) and increased levels of alexithymia. This study investigated the association of QoL and alexithymia in a sample of SPD.


METHODS
Fifty-one patients with SPD (average time since onset: 11.6 years) were assessed in terms of alexithymia (TAS-20), QoL (WHOQOL-BREF), psychological distress and somatisation (SCL-90-R), and depression (MADRS).


RESULTS
In SPD patients a significant negative correlation was observed between QoL and alexithymia, particularly the psychological domain of QoL and the TAS-20 total score (r=-.63, p<.001). The TAS-20 subscale "Difficulty Describing Feelings" was revealed to be a significant predictor of the psychological domain of QoL (beta=-.34, p<.01), even after controlling for depression, somatisation and gender.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with SPD show a remarkably reduced QoL and alexithymia appears to play a significant role for low QoL. Clinicians need to pay careful attention to alexithymia with regard to diagnosis and treatment planning in SPD patients.
Psychiatrische Poliklinik, Universitätsspital Zürich, Rämistr. 100, 8091, Zürich, Schweiz. david.garcia@usz.ch
D
D
Garcia Nuñez
M
M
Rufer
K
K
Leenen
K-L
KL
Majohr
H
H
Grabe
J
J
Jenewein
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic