Influence of alexithymia on health-related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease: are there any related factors?
OBJECTIVE
Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by difficulty to perceive and express emotions. Previous studies have indicated a high prevalence of alexithymia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but results have been inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of alexithymia in a large IBD cohort and to establish the impact of alexithymia on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in these patients.


METHODS
A cross-sectional prospective study was undertaken including 534 consecutive IBD patients. Independent variables were measured using one socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire, the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-26). Dependent variables were measured using the short form 36 health survey (SF-36) and the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ-36). Multiple linear regression and logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with HRQOL.


RESULTS
Participation rate was 91.3%. The overall prevalence of alexithymia was 30.2% (95% CI: 26.0-35.0), with no difference between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The most affected scales in quality of life were general health (mean = 48.35, 95% CI: 46.43-50.27), vitality (mean = 55.81, 95% CI: 53.59-58.04) and systemic symptoms (mean = 5.19, 95% CI: 5.08-5.29). Alexithymia was significantly associated with an impaired quality of life (OR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.98-5.65). "Difficulty identifying feelings" and "externally oriented thinking" were the alexithymia factors related to the impaired HRQOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Alexithymia is highly prevalent in IBD and represents a significant determinant of HRQOL. Alexithymia and its components need to be taken into consideration in the management of IBD patients.
Foundation for Research in Digestive Diseases (FIENAD), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Marta
M
Iglesias-Rey
Manuel
M
Barreiro-de Acosta
Francisco
F
Caamaño-Isorna
Isabel
I
Vázquez Rodríguez
Aurelio
A
Lorenzo González
Xabier
X
Bello-Paderne
J Enrique
JE
Domínguez-Muñoz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000523:psychology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult