BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that impairs patients' quality of life. Various psychiatric or psychological conditions have been associated with HS, however, no data are available on alexithymia, a psychological construct characterized by the inability to express, describe, and recognize feelings. OBJECTIVES: To assess the presence of alexithymia in HS patients. MATERIALS & METHODS: Demographic and clinical data from patients with HS were collected. Alexithymia was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS)-20 questionnaire to define non-alexithymic subjects (scoring 20-50), borderline (possible) alexithymia subjects (scoring 51-60), and alexithymic subjects (scoring ≥61). The alexithymic personality trait is identified based on TAS-20 score ≥51. RESULTS: This multicentre study included 86 HS patients, 100 obese individuals, and 85 healthy control subjects. The mean TAS-20 score was significantly higher in the HS patient cohort (55.37 ±13.42) than in the control group (40.96±10.47) (p<0.001). Compared to the healthy and obese control groups, the prevalence of alexithymic personality trait in HS patients was 61.6% versus 21.95% and 32%, respectively (p<0.001). Of the HS patients, 37.2% were classified as alexithymic and 24.4% as borderline alexithymia. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in which an association between HS and alexithymia has been reported, expanding the spectrum of psychological disorders associated with HS.

Alexithymia affects patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

Chiricozzi, Andrea;Iannone, Michela;Dini, Valentina;Oranges, Teresa;
2018-01-01

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that impairs patients' quality of life. Various psychiatric or psychological conditions have been associated with HS, however, no data are available on alexithymia, a psychological construct characterized by the inability to express, describe, and recognize feelings. OBJECTIVES: To assess the presence of alexithymia in HS patients. MATERIALS & METHODS: Demographic and clinical data from patients with HS were collected. Alexithymia was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS)-20 questionnaire to define non-alexithymic subjects (scoring 20-50), borderline (possible) alexithymia subjects (scoring 51-60), and alexithymic subjects (scoring ≥61). The alexithymic personality trait is identified based on TAS-20 score ≥51. RESULTS: This multicentre study included 86 HS patients, 100 obese individuals, and 85 healthy control subjects. The mean TAS-20 score was significantly higher in the HS patient cohort (55.37 ±13.42) than in the control group (40.96±10.47) (p<0.001). Compared to the healthy and obese control groups, the prevalence of alexithymic personality trait in HS patients was 61.6% versus 21.95% and 32%, respectively (p<0.001). Of the HS patients, 37.2% were classified as alexithymic and 24.4% as borderline alexithymia. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in which an association between HS and alexithymia has been reported, expanding the spectrum of psychological disorders associated with HS.
2018
Chiricozzi, Andrea; Giovanardi, Giulia; Caro, Dante Raffaele Caposiena; Iannone, Michela; Garcovich, Simone; Dini, Valentina; De Simone, Clara; France...espandi
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/970018
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