OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alexithymia in a sample of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to further evaluate the association between alexithymia and the occurrence of common disabling MS-related symptoms such as fatigue and depression. METHODS: Fifty-eight relapsing-remitting MS patients treated with interferon (IFN)-beta-1a underwent a complete neurological evaluation, including Expanded Disability Status Scale score assessment. Alexithymia, depressive symptoms and fatigue were assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Fatigue Severity Scale. RESULTS: Prevalence of alexithymia was 13.8%, with 27.6% of patients presenting borderline alexithymia. Sixty-seven per cent of the patients complained of fatigue while 29.3% of them were depressed. Higher levels of fatigue and depression were found in alexithymic patients when compared with non-alexithymic patients. Results from logistic regressions showed that alexithymia significantly contributes to the severity of fatigue and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymia was associated with increased severity of fatigue and depression.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alexithymia in a sample of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to further evaluate the association between alexithymia and the occurrence of common disabling MS-related symptoms such as fatigue and depression. METHODS: Fifty-eight relapsing-remitting MSpatients treated with interferon (IFN)-beta-1a underwent a complete neurological evaluation, including Expanded Disability Status Scale score assessment. Alexithymia, depressive symptoms and fatigue were assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Fatigue Severity Scale. RESULTS: Prevalence of alexithymia was 13.8%, with 27.6% of patients presenting borderline alexithymia. Sixty-seven per cent of the patients complained of fatigue while 29.3% of them were depressed. Higher levels of fatigue and depression were found in alexithymic patients when compared with non-alexithymic patients. Results from logistic regressions showed that alexithymia significantly contributes to the severity of fatigue and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymia was associated with increased severity of fatigue and depression.
Authors: Ruth Ann Marrie; Stephen Reingold; Jeffrey Cohen; Olaf Stuve; Maria Trojano; Per Soelberg Sorensen; Gary Cutter; Nadia Reider Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2015-01-12 Impact factor: 6.312
Authors: Ruth Ann Marrie; Jeffrey Cohen; Olaf Stuve; Maria Trojano; Per Soelberg Sørensen; Stephen Reingold; Gary Cutter; Nadia Reider Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2015-01-26 Impact factor: 6.312
Authors: Samanta Simioni; Myriam Schluep; Nadège Bault; Giorgio Coricelli; Joerg Kleeberg; Renaud A Du Pasquier; Markus Gschwind; Patrik Vuilleumier; Jean-Marie Annoni Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-12-05 Impact factor: 3.240