title: Alexithymia and depression in a chronic pain patient sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of alexithymia in a sample of general chronic pain patients, to explore possible differences in depression and pain variables between alexithymic and nonalexithymic chronic pain patients and to analyze if depression is a mediator between alexithymia and pain disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and seventy-one patients making their first visit to a pain clinic completed the study questionnaire including various pain measures, the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The sample was dichotomized to alexithymic and nonalexithymic groups. The means of the study variables were compared between the groups. The correlation analysis of the variables was carried out separately in both groups. Path analysis was done to ascertain the mediation effect of BDI-II between the TAS-20 and pain disability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Every fifth chronic pain patient was alexithymic. The BDI-II and pain variable scores were significantly higher in the alexithymic group than in the nonalexithymic group. Pain variables were not associated with alexithymia when BDI-II was controlled for. BDI-II worked as a full mediator between TAS-20 and pain disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The alexithymic patient group was more morbid than the nonalexithymic group. The results suggest that depression is the main factor in pain conditions of alexithymic chronic pain patients. The authors recommend screening and treatment of depression in alexithymic chronic pain patients.
authors: Pain Clinic, Raahe Hospital, Raahe, Finland. anita.saariaho@gmail.com
authors: Anita S
authors: AS
authors: Saariaho
authors: Tom H
authors: TH
authors: Saariaho
authors: Aino K
authors: AK
authors: Mattila
authors: Max R
authors: MR
authors: Karukivi
authors: Matti I
authors: MI
authors: Joukamaa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult