title: Alexithymia and tissue inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Altered immune responses are seen in depression, and recent data suggest that similar changes could also be observable in alexithymia. We examined whether the inflammatory markers high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 are independently related to alexithymia or its factors in a population-based sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study formed a clinical part of the Kuopio Depression (KUDEP) general population study focusing on the mental health of a general population of adults aged 25-64 years (n = 308). Alexithymia was measured using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of IL-6 (in picograms per milliliter) and hs-CRP (in milligrams per liter) were significantly higher in alexithymic than in nonalexithymic subjects (IL-6 effect size, ES: 0.50; hs-CRP ES: 0.27). The BDI scores, hs-CRP and IL-6 explained 33.5% of the variation in TAS scores in the whole study population. According to logistic regression analysis, hs-CRP but not IL-6 increased the likelihood of belonging to the alexithymic group. This observation remained unaltered after additional adjustments for chronic inflammation-related disorders, the use of inflammation-modulating medications and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the association between hs-CRP and alexithymia resembles that observed in depressed patients. It is, however, independent of depressive symptoms. These findings widen our view on the stress-alexithymia concept.
authors.affiliation: Kuopio Psychiatric Center, Kuopio, Finland. kirsi.honkalampi @ kuh.fi
authors.forename: Kirsi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honkalampi
authors.forename: Soili M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lehto
authors.forename: Heli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koivumaa-Honkanen
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hintikka
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niskanen
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valkonen-Korhonen
authors.forename: Heimo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Viinamäki
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003863:Depression / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012042:Registries
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein