title: Emotional self-efficacy and alexithymia may affect compliance, renal function and quality of life in kidney transplant recipients: results from a preliminary cross-sectional study.
abstract: Recent studies show that alexithymia may influence compliance and quality of life in different clinical situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between alexithymia or emotional self-efficacy and compliance, quality of life (QoL) and renal function in renal transplant patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three patients were enrolled during a follow-up visit (>3 months post-transplant) and were asked to complete three self-report questionnaires (TAS-20, SF-36, RESE) to answer the following items: "In the past four weeks, how many times did you fail to take your prescribed dose?" and "How would you rate your adherence levels from 0 to 100?" (visual analogue scale).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alexithymia was positively correlated with non-compliance (r=.314; p=.04), and negatively with QoL dimensions. Analysis of variance confirmed that patients with high levels of alexithymia reported a negative perception of their QoL (mental health: F(1,41)=7,6; p=.008) and lower levels of compliance (F(1,41)=12,5; p=.001) compared with patients with low levels of alexithymia. The self-efficacy in the management of negative emotions was significantly correlated (r=-.314; p=.04) with creatinine levels and positively with the QoL (mental health: r=.421; p=.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inability to recognize and express emotions, as well as the ability to manage negative emotions, may influence compliance and QoL of renal transplant patients. Focused psychological support could be useful in these patients in order to increase their compliance and QoL.
authors: Department of Surgery, Transplantation Service, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Rosaria
authors: R
authors: Calia
authors: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Lai
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: pa.aceto@gmail.com.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Aceto
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Massimiliano
authors: M
authors: Luciani
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Camardese
authors: Department of Nephrology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Lai
authors: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Fantozzi
authors: Department of Surgery, Transplantation Service, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Pietroni
authors: Department of Surgery, Transplantation Service, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Maria Paola
authors: MP
authors: Salerno
authors: Department of Surgery, Transplantation Service, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Gionata
authors: G
authors: Spagnoletti
authors: Department of Surgery, Transplantation Service, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Jose Alberto
authors: JA
authors: Pedroso
authors: Department of Surgery, Transplantation Service, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Jacopo
authors: J
authors: Romagnoli
authors: Department of Surgery, Transplantation Service, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors: Franco
authors: F
authors: Citterio
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Alexithymia; Compliance; Emotional regulation; Kidney transplant; Quality of life