title: [Alexithymia and suicide risk among patients with schizophrenia: preliminary findings of a cross-sectional study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of alexithymia and its relationships with psychopathological features and suicide risk in a sample of adult patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed male-female sample of 60 subjects (30 males and 30 females) was evaluated with the following rating scales: Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  22 subjects (36.7%) were categorized as alexithymic (TAS-20 scores > or =61). Alexithymics showed more severe negative and depressive symptoms and increased suicide risk than non alexithymics. However, the results of a linear regression with SSI score as dependent variable showed that Difficulty in Identifying and Describing Feelings dimensions of TAS-20 and higher CDSS scores were significantly associated with higher scores on the Scale for Suicide Ideation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of alexithymia in schizophrenia may be related to higher risk of suicide ideation and more severe depressive symptoms, independently by the severity of positive and negative symptoms. However, results are preliminary and limitations must be considered.
authors: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Servizio Psichiatrico Diagnosi e Cura, Ospedale Civile G. Mazzini, ASL Teramo.
authors: Viviana
authors: V
authors: Marasco
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: De Berardis
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Serroni
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Campanella
authors: Tiziano
authors: T
authors: Acciavatti
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Caltabiano
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Olivieri
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Rapini
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Cicconetti
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Carano
authors: Raffaella
authors: R
authors: La Rovere
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Di Iorio
authors: Francesco Saverio
authors: FS
authors: Moschetta
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Di Giannantonio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult