title: Peculiar alexithymic traits in burning mouth syndrome: case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present case-control study aims to assess the occurrence of alexithymic traits in burning mouth syndrome (BMS) subjects and to correlate alexithymic traits to anxious and depressive traits in BMS subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospectively enrolled BMS and control subjects were administered the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Anxiety and depressive traits were assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Occurrence of alexithymic traits was compared between BMS and control subjects. Correlation tests were used to measure the importance of alexithymic traits related to demographic characteristics, pain intensity (VAS score), and to the other psychometric scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-eight BMS subjects (46 females and 12 males) had a mean TAS-20 score significantly higher when compared to controls (p < 0.001; r = 0.72), corresponding to an occurrence rate of alexithymic traits of 79.3 versus 6.9%. Alexithymic traits in BMS subjects were just related to depressive traits (p = 0.02; ρ = 0.31).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high occurrence of alexithymia in BMS is an adjunctive issue in favor of its multifactorial pathogenesis, with a not negligible role for somatization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should be aware of the high occurrence of alexithymic traits among BMS subjects as such traits may affect the doctor-patient relationship.
authors: Unit of Oral Medicine and Oral Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Marino
authors: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Mental Health Department, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy.
authors: Rocco Luigi
authors: RL
authors: Picci
authors: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Mental Health Department, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Ferro
authors: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Mental Health Department, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy.
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Carezana
authors: Unit of Oral Medicine and Oral Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy. sergio.gandolfo@unito.it.
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Gandolfo
authors: Unit of Oral Medicine and Oral Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Pentenero
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D000368:Aged; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable
keywords: 20-item Toronto Alexithymic Scale; Alexithymia; Burning mouth syndrome; Somatization