title: A longitudinal study of alexithymia in relation to physical activity in adolescent females with scoliosis subjected to cheneau brace treatment: preliminary report.
abstract: METHODS
  A longitudinal pilot study of changes in levels of alexithymia among females with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) under brace treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of alexithymia and to evaluate changes in alexithymia levels among female patients with AIS treated with a Cheneau brace, in comparison with healthy female adolescents.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Alexithymia is a personality trait incorporating the following core characteristics: difficulty in identifying and describing feelings, difficulty in distinguishing between feelings and the physical sensation of emotional arousal, limited imaginal processes, and an externally oriented cognitive style. Alexithymia can be common among adolescents and young adults with severe idiopathic scoliosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six female patients with AIS, aged 13.4 years (standard deviation [SD], 1.7) at the beginning of the study, completed the Polish version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-26 (TAS-26). The second and third evaluations took place at 6 and 12 months, respectively, after the beginning of the study. Thirty-six healthy female controls were also included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean TAS-26 total score was 63.4 (SD, 9.3), 59.5 (SD, 12.1), and 59.6 (SD, 12.5) during the first, second, and last patient evaluation, whereas in healthy females 60.0 (SD, 10.9). With regard to the TAS-26 total score, results differed significantly between the first and the second (P = 0.007) and between the first and the third patient evaluation (P = 0.007). Regression analysis revealed that during the second and third patient evaluation, duration of recreational sports activity had a statistically significant (P = 0.029 and P = 0.005, respectively) influence on the probability of females reporting no alexithymia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of alexithymia in healthy female controls is the same as in patients with scoliosis subjected to underarm brace treatment. Statistically significant changes with regard to TAS-26 total score and externally oriented thinking domain were found in patient sample. Physical activity in females with AIS treated nonoperatively coexists with lower scores in the TAS-26.
  
  
  METHODS
  2.
authors: *Department of Pediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland †Department of Human Developmental Psychology and Family Research, Institute of Psychology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland ‡Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology, SKN of Paediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology; and §Department and Clinic of Surgery, Traumatology, and Pediatric Urology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Misterska
authors: Maciej
authors: M
authors: Glowacki
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Adamczyk
authors: Jakub
authors: J
authors: Glowacki
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Harasymczuk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology