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Cited by 103Psychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesFibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research

Alexithymia in somatoform and depressive disorders

Duddu, V, Isaac, M.K, Chaturvedi, S.K·2003·Journal of Psychosomatic Research
DOI 10.1016/s0022-3999(02)00440-3
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Abstract

Objective Alexithymia and its association with attribution styles, amplification and illness attitudes was studied among subjects with somatoform disorders, depressive disorders and normal subjects.Methods Two groups of 30 subjects each, bearing diagnoses of somatoform disorder and depressive disorder respectively (ICD-10 DCR), and one group of 30 normal controls were recruited. The study subjects were assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and scales for assessing attribution styles, amplification and illness attitudes.Results Mean alexithymia scores in the somatoform (60.4) and depressive disorder groups (62.5) were higher than in normal subjects (54.2). In the somatoform disorder group, total alexithymia and 'difficulty describing feelings' scores positively correlated with psychological attribution (the latter correlation was also noted in the depressive disorder group), but not with the illness attitudes, amplification, somatic attribution scores or any of the sociodemographic variables. Compared with normal subjects, those with somatoform and depressive disorder had greater difficulty in identifying bodily sensations and feelings. Subjects with depressive disorder had more difficulty in expressing feelings compared to somatoform disorder subjects.Conclusions While total alexithymia scores do not differentiate somatoform from depressive disorders, the two diagnostic groups do differ in that depressed subjects have greater difficulty in expressing feelings. However, all three groups had mean scores within the non-alexithymic range. Alexithymia and difficulty in expressing feelings were associated with psychological attribution of innocuous bodily sensations in the somatoform disorder group suggesting that alexithymic subjects are more able to psychologize bodily symptoms than non-alexithymic subjects. Somatoform and depressive disorder subjects and normals differ from each other in certain alexithymic characteristics, which could have potential therapeutic implications.

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Authors
Duddu, V, Isaac, M. K., & Chaturvedi, S. K.
Affiliations
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IN)
Corresponding author
Duddu, V
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2003-05
Volume
54
Issue
5
Pages
435-438
ISSN
0022-3999 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/s0022-3999(02)00440-3
OpenAlex
W2018956941
Cited by
103
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
FWCI
1.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Psychosomatic Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
Keywords
alexithymia, somatoform disorders, depressive disorders, attribution style, psychological attribution, difficulty describing feelings, attitudes toward illness, amplification
MeSH terms
Adult, Affective Symptoms, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Somatoform Disorders

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