Alexithymia and global psychosocial functioning: a study on patients with skin disease

Patient prioritisation of impact items to develop the patient-reported impact of dermatological diseases (PRIDD) measure: European Delphi data

BACKGROUND

The Global Research on the Impact of Dermatological Diseases (GRIDD) project is developing a patient-reported measure of the impact of dermatological disease on the patient's life called Patient Reported Impact of Dermatological Diseases (PRIDD). We developed a list of 263 potential impact items through a global qualitative interview study with 68 patients. We next conducted a Delphi study to seek consensus on which of these items to prioritize for inclusion in PRIDD. This study aims to explore patterns in demographic (e.g. country) and clinical variables (e.g. disease group) across the impacts ranked as most important to European dermatology patients.

METHODS

We conducted a modified, two rounds Delphi study, testing the outcomes from the previous qualitative interview study. Adults (≥18 years) living with a dermatological disease were recruited through the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations' (GlobalSkin) membership network. The survey consisted of a demographic questionnaire and 263 impact items and was available in six languages. Quantitative data were collected using ranking scales and analysed against a priori consensus criteria. Qualitative data were collected using free-text responses and a Framework Analysis was conducted. European data were obtained, and descriptive statistics, including multiple subgroup analyses, were performed.

RESULTS

Out of 1154 participants, 441 Europeans representing 46 dermatological disease from 25 countries participated. The results produced a list of the top 20 impacts reported by European patients, with psychological impacts accounting for the greatest proportion.

CONCLUSION

This study identified what patients consider to be the most important issues impacting their lives as a result of their dermatological disease. The data support previous evidence that patients experience profound psychological impacts and require psychological support. The findings can inform research, clinical practice and policy by indicating research questions and initiatives that are of most benefit to patients.

Psychological Distress, Alexithymia and Alcohol Misuse in Patients with Psoriasis: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study investigates (a) the prevalence of psychological distress, alexithymia and alcohol misuse in psoriasis patients; and (b) the relationship between psoriasis severity, alexithymia, alcohol and psychological distress in patients with psoriasis. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Outpatients (n = 184) with moderate to severe psoriasis completed a psychological screening battery. Measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Dermatology Life Quality Index, the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, the Self-Administered Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Demographic, clinical details and information on knowledge of psychosocial issues, alcohol and confidence on coping with distress and talking to others about psoriasis was also gathered. Alexithymia was associated with anxiety, depression and worry; subjective psoriasis severity was associated with worry. Alcohol misuse was related to anxiety and worry, but not to depression. Appropriate identification and treatment of alcohol difficulties and psychological distress of patients with psoriasis is needed.

A comprehensive approach to understand somatic symptoms and their impact on emotional and psychosocial functioning in children

INTRODUCTION

Somatic symptoms are frequently reported by children with significant impairment in functioning. Despite studies on adult populations that suggest somatic symptoms often co-occur with difficulties in identifying and describing feelings, little research has been done in childhood. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and frequency of somatic symptoms as well as to investigate the functional impairment in children with high number of self reported somatic symptoms versus those with fewer somatic symptoms. Additionally the parental perception of their children's somatic symptoms and functioning was explored. Finally, we explored the direct and indirect effects of difficulties in identifying feelings in predicting somatic symptoms and functional disability among school-aged children.

METHODS

356 Italian school-aged children and their mothers participated in this study. Children (mean age = 11.43; SD = 2.41) completed the Children's Somatization Inventory (CSI-24) to assess somatic symptoms, the Functional Disability Inventory (FDI) to assess physical and psychosocial functioning and the Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children (AQC) to evaluate alexithymic features. Mothers completed the parental forms of the CSI and the FDI.

RESULTS

Among children, 66.3% did not declare somatic symptoms and 33.7% reported one or more somatic symptoms in the last two weeks. A significant positive correlation emerged between children's and mothers' CSI total scores. Both children's and mothers' FDI total scores were significantly correlated with CSI scores. A significant correlation was observed between somatic symptoms and alexithymic features. Furthermore, the data showed that somatic symptoms mediated the relationship between difficulties in identifying feelings and functional impairment. Finally, it was showed that alexithymia facet of difficulty in identifying feelings contributed in large part to the prediction of the somatic symptomatology (b = 0.978, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.164, F(5, 350) = 10.32, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this study provide evidence that a higher frequency of somatic symptoms is associated with functional disabilities and alexithymic facets in school-aged children.

The role of alexithymia in quality of life impairment in patients with chronic hepatitis C during antiviral treatment

This study aimed to investigate the role of alexithymia in the quality of life of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with antiviral therapy. A consecutive sample of 124 patients were evaluated at baseline, during, and 6months after treatment with interferon and ribavirin. At baseline past mood disorders and alexithymia and, at each index visit, adverse events, psychological distress, and disease-specific quality of life were assessed with validated instruments. Patients with past mood disorders and alexithymia had impaired levels of quality of life, psychological distress, and treatment-related adverse events. However, after controlling for covariates, poor quality of life was independently predicted by alexithymia and psychological distress before (R(2)=0.60) and 6months after (R(2)=0.69) the antiviral treatment while during treatment (at 3months and the end of therapy) by depression and somatic adverse events (R(2)=0.67 and 0.69, respectively). Alexithymia rather than history of mood disorders resulted to be an independent predictor of impaired quality of life not only before but also 6months after the end of treatment. Given the association with proneness to health-compromising behaviors, clinicians are encouraged to pay closer attention to long-term psychological and somatic effects of antiviral treatment in patients with alexithymic characteristics.

Alexithymia in the medically ill. Analysis of 1190 patients in gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology and dermatology

OBJECTIVE

To use the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR) for characterizing alexithymia in a large and heterogeneous medical population, in conjunction with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) and other DCPR criteria.

METHOD

Of 1305 patients recruited from 4 medical centers in the Italian Health System, 1190 agreed to participate. They all underwent an assessment with DSM-IV and DCPR structured interviews. A total of 188 patients (15.8%) were defined as alexithymic by using the DCPR criteria. Data were submitted to cluster analysis.

RESULTS

Five clusters of patients with alexithymia were identified: (1) alexithymia with no psychiatric comorbidity (29.3% of cases); (2) depressed somatization with alexithymic features (23.4%); (3) alexithymic illness behavior (17.6%); (4) alexithymic somatization (17%) and (5) alexithymic anxiety (12.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that DCPR alexithymia is associated with a comorbid mood or anxiety disorder in about one third of cases; it is related to various forms of somatization and abnormal illness behavior in another third and may occur without psychiatric comorbidity in another subgroup. Identification of alexithymic features may entail major prognostic and therapeutic differences among medical patients who otherwise seem to be deceptively similar since they share the same psychiatric and/or medical diagnosis.

Health status, coping strategies, and alexithymia in subjects with androgenetic alopecia: a questionnaire study

BACKGROUND

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is viewed as a relatively mild dermatologic condition; however, affected individuals feel that alopecia is a serious condition with major consequences in their life.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the health status, the risk of anxiety/depression, the coping strategies, and alexithymia in subjects with AGA.

METHODS

Consecutive subjects referred to the outpatients department of the Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IDI IRCCS) dermatologic hospital with a diagnosis of AGA were enrolled. AGA was assessed using the Ludwig scale in female subjects and following Hamilton-Norwood's classification in male subjects. The questionnaires provided to the patient and collected before the visit were the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12 (SF-12), the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20). Multiple logistic regressions were performed to examine the relationship of sociodemographic variables and clinical characteristics with coping.

RESULTS

351 subjects were enrolled during the study period. Sixty percent of female subjects with AGA were GHQ-12 positive (values ≥4) compared with 32 % of male subjects with AGA. AGA male and AGA female subjects had a statistically worse score than non-AGA male subjects for the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS) of the SF-12, and for the GHQ-12. Compared with male subjects, AGA female subjects were more likely to adopt an 'active emotional coping' strategy according to COPE scores, and less likely to have 'externally oriented thinking,' and more 'difficulty identifying feelings' according to the TAS-20 scores. In a logistic regression model, including sex, MCS, total TAS-20, and the COPE scores as independent variables and the AGA severity as a dependent variable, only sex had a significant odds ratio (OR) [13.32; 95 % CI 4.77-38.58, p < 0.001]. Female subjects were almost 13 times more likely to have more severe AGA than male subjects. In three other models (i.e., one for each coping category) which included sex, AGA severity, MCS, and TAS-20, the 'problem-focused coping' strategy was negatively associated with alexithymia (OR 0.48; 95 % CI 0.27-0.86, p = 0.01), the 'active emotional coping' strategy was associated with gender (women had an OR of 2.69; 95 % CI 1.5-4.8, p = 0.001), and the 'avoidant coping' strategy was associated with alexithymia (OR 4.12; 95 % CI 2.23-7.58, p < 0.001) and with lower MCS values (OR 0.37; 95 % CI 0.22-0.64, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The study confirmed the high prevalence of depression/anxiety in AGA subjects, with a significantly higher prevalence in AGA female than male subjects. It is interesting to observe that patients reactions to their AGA related more to the emotional and psychological states deriving from their alopecia than to the objective clinical rating. Avoidant coping strategies were selected more frequently by AGA subjects if they were GHQ-12 positive and had alexithymia. To have alexithymia modified all coping strategies in AGA female subjects but not in AGA male subjects. Physicians should be aware that the impact of AGA is not limited to symptoms, and should help people to deal with their emotional responses to alopecia, such as anger and worry, and their beliefs about the consequences of their condition, and how it will impact on their daily life.

Psychodermatological disorders: recognition and treatment

Many dermatological disorders have a psychosomatic or behavioral aspect. Skin and brain continually interact through psychoneuroimmunoendocrine mechanisms and through behaviors that can strongly affect the initiation or flaring of skin disorders. It is important to consider these mind-body interactions when planning treatments for specific skin disorders in individual patients. Mind-influencing therapeutic options that can enhance treatment of skin disorders include standard psychotropic drugs, alternative herbs and supplements, the placebo effect, suggestion, cognitive-behavioral methods, biofeedback, and hypnosis. When individual measures do not produce the desired results, combinations of drugs or addition of non-drug therapies may be more successful. Psychophysiological skin disorders may respond well to non-drug and drug therapies that counteract stress. Treatment of primary psychiatric disorders often results in improvement of associated skin disorders. Psychiatric disorders secondary to skin disorders may also require treatment. Therapeutic options for each of these are discussed.

Alexithymia and acne vulgaris: a case control study

OBJECTIVE

To assess relationship between alexithymia and acne vulgaris in young people.

METHODS

A hundred and eleven subjects between 15 and 25 years of age referred to out-patient clinic of dermatology with acne and 78 subjects applied to family physician for complaints other than acne were included in patient and control groups of the study, respectively. A questionnaire to determine demographic characteristics, an acne classification to determine severity of acne and Toronto Alexithymic Scale (TAS) to assess alexithymia were used.

RESULTS

The mean scores of TAS were 52.7±10.8 and 51.7±10.7 in patient and control groups, respectively. Alexitymia was determined in 23.4% of the subjects in acne group and in 24.4% of control group. No significant differences were found between groups in terms of alexithymia, intermediate alexitymia and three-factors of TAS.

CONCLUSION

Alexithymia does not appear to be related to acne vulgaris.

Psychological distress and coping strategies in patients attending a dermatology outpatient clinic

BACKGROUND

  Psychological distress is frequent among dermatological patients. The development of a positive attitude toward diagnosis and treatment is thought to be critical for successful coping and mental health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

  The aim of this study was to assess the coping strategies and the psychological distress, due to anxiety and depression, in an unselected sample of dermatological patients.

METHODS

  Self-administered questionnaires (HADS, COPE) were given to 603 dermatological patients.

RESULTS

  Out of 567 participants, 149 (26.2%) scored positive for Anxiety, and 52 (9.2%) scored positive for Depression. Multivariate analysis, adjusting for gender, age, socio-economic status, and disease, showed that both Anxiety and Depression are associated with a less frequent use of Positive attitude coping.

CONCLUSION

  Our results reinforce the notion that while planning the treatment of dermatological patients, evaluating their mental health might help to provide optimal treatment. Since coping ability was found to be important for mental health status, policy implications could include emphasis on social programs to assist individuals to manage stress, as well as psychological support.

Which factors predict the persistence of DSM-IV depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders in the medically ill three months post hospital discharge?

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to assess the persistence of DSM-IV depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders in a sample of 206 medical patients 3 months after hospital discharge and to examine which baseline factors predicted the persistence of disorder.

METHODS

Patients were interviewed using the Monash Interview for Liaison Psychiatry (a structured psychiatric interview for the medically ill) during admission and again at 3 months post discharge. Scales completed during admission elicited sociodemographic data, psychiatric history, mental and physical functioning, illness behavior, coping modes, and number of close relationships. Best-subset logistic regression was employed to find the best combination of these potential predictors of the persistence of psychiatric disorder.

RESULTS

Persistence of anxiety disorders [n=43; 50.6%; 95% CI=39.5-61.6], depression (n=55; 44.4%; 95% CI=35.4-53.5), and somatoform disorders (n=35; 42.2%; 95% CI=31.3-53.0) was moderately high, with no statistically significant difference in the rate of persistence of the three groups of disorder. Family psychiatric history, education, and poorer physical and mental functioning during hospitalization predicted persistence of depression. Poorer mental functioning, less denial, and greater number of close relationships predicted persistence of anxiety disorders. Higher levels of education, use of acceptance-resignation as a coping mechanism, and greater hypochondriasis predicted persistence of somatoform disorders.

CONCLUSION

The belief that psychiatric disorders in hospitalized medically ill patients spontaneously remit after discharge is false. A substantial proportion persist for at least 3 months. Early detection and treatment is possible and warranted. Features of the illness (poorer physical and mental health) and personal and social factors identifiable at hospital admission identify patients at risk for persistence.

The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder, psychiatric comorbidity, and personality traits among patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria

BACKGROUND

Several studies have highlighted the link between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and physical illnesses. No empirical studies, however, have investigated the relationship between PTSD and chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). The role of personality traits in this relationship was also unknown.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate (1) the extent to which patients with CIU fulfilled the PTSD diagnosis resulting from past traumas and (2) whether they developed psychiatric comorbidity, and (3) the relationship between CIU patients' personality traits, PTSD diagnosis, severity of CIU, and psychiatric comorbidity.

METHODS

One hundred patients with CIU and 60 patients with allergy (control) participated in the study. Patients' CIU severity was assessed. Both groups completed the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, the General Health Questionnaire-28, the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory.

RESULTS

Thirty-four percent of patients with CIU and 18% of allergy patients met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Patients with CIU were 1.89 times more likely to have a current diagnosis of PTSD than the control group. Controlling for life event stress and perceived stress, significant differences were found between groups (CIU PTSD, CIU no PTSD, allergy PTSD, allergy no PTSD) in somatic problems, anxiety, and social dysfunction. Controlling for life event stress and perceived stress, regression analyses showed no significant associations between personality traits, PTSD diagnosis, and the severity of CIU. Posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis and neuroticism were, however, associated with psychiatric comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CIU have been shown to have concurrent PTSD resulting from past traumas and developed psychiatric comorbidity. Chronic idiopathic urticaria patients' comorbidity was related to the patients' PTSD diagnosis and their neurotic personality trait.

Relationship between anger and pruritus perception in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria and psoriasis

BACKGROUND

There is evidence that chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) and psoriasis are associated with personality based difficulties in emotional regulation particularly with regard to the feeling of anger. This deficit in emotional awareness could lead to the phenomenon that emotions are rather experienced in bodily symptoms such as pruritus.

AIM

We investigated whether there is a relationship between pruritus as major symptoms in CIU and psoriasis and the experience of negative emotions.

SETTING

Forty-one CIU patients and 44 psoriasis patients treated at Bonn University Hospital and 49 healthy controls were included.

METHOD

Patients and controls were compared on questionnaires measuring alexithymia (TAS-20), emotional distress (SCL-90-R) and anger (STAXI). In skin-disordered patients, separate stepwise regressions with pruritus severity as dependent variable and questionnaires, skin status, duration, sex and age as independent variables were calculated.

RESULTS

CIU and psoriasis patients showed higher alexithymia, emotional distress, depression, anxiety and state anger compared with controls. State anger was the only significant predictor of pruritus severity in CIU explaining 19% of variance. Depression was the only significant predictor of pruritus severity in psoriasis explaining 12% of variance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest a relationship between pruritus severity and anger in CIU. Furthermore, our results indicate a relationship between pruritus severity and depression in psoriasis.