title: Obesity, alexithymia and psychopathology: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between psychopathology and alexithymia in obese patients is uncertain. The present study was performed to evaluate this relationship in a clinical sample of patients attending a centre for the diagnosis and treatment of obesity compared to a matched sample of non-obese subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  293 consecutive obese patients (48 males, 245 females, mean age 45, 41±13.55 yrs; mean BMI 35.60±6.20) were compared with a control group made of 293 non-obese subjects (48 males, 245 females, mean age 45, 66±13.86 yrs; mean BMI 21.8±2.06); all subjects were interviewed by means of SCID I and SCID II together with several self-evaluation instruments including the TAS-20 (Toronto Alexithymia Scale) and SCL-90 (Symptom Check List, Revised).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alexithymia was significantly more frequent among obese patients compared to "normal" controls (12.9% vs 6.9%, p=0.010); moreover obese patients achieved significantly higher mean scores on subscales 1 and 2 and on overall scale of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale; comorbidity with axis I/II disorders, in particular Binge Eating Disorder, was associated with a significantly higher frequency of alexithymic traits and higher scores at TAS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alexithymia and psychopathology are strongly correlated among obese patients seeking treatment. Routine evaluation of personality traits and comorbid psychopathology may be relevant in treatment of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Cagliari, Via Liguria 13, 09127 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pirarba
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Orrù
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Velluzzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loviselli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carpiniello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales