ALPHA PSYCHIATRY
Original Articles

Alexithymia in patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis

Alpha Psychiatry 2011; 12: 44-48
Read: 580 Downloads: 378 Published: 01 February 2011

Objective: Seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) is one of the dermatological diseases affected by psychological factors, and the psychodermatological patients are characterized by alexithymia. But there is no research about alexi-thymia in SD patients. It was aimed to identify the prevalence of alexithymia and the correlation of alexithymia with severity of depressive symptoms and levels of state and trait anxiety in a sample of SD patients. Methods: Thirty SD patients with no concomitant psychiatric axis I disorders and a control group (CG) (30 healthy subjects) matched for age, gender and education level were compared in terms of alexithymia (TAS-20; 20-item version of Toronto Alexithymia Scale), anxiety (STAI; the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and depressive symptoms (BDI; the Beck’s Depression Inventory). Results: SD patients had significantly greater levels of trait anxiety and alexithymia scores and more severe depressive symptoms than CG. According to TAS-20, 36.7% (n=11) of SD patients and 10.0% (n=3) of CG were alexithymic, and the rate of alexithymics in the CG was significantly lower than in the SDP. Alexithymia scores were positively correlated with anxiety levels (both state and trait) and severity of depressive symptoms in SD patients. In addition, the alexithymia had tightest relationship with the depressive symptom severity, and the relationship of alexithymia with trait anxiety was tighter than that of state anxiety. Conclusion: Although more extensive studies are required, alexithymia and it’s complex relationship with emotional distress should be taken into consideration as confounding factors while evaluating the patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2011; 12(1.000): 44-48]

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