Contributions
Abstract: P820
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Therapy - symptomatic - 34 Quality of life
Introduction: Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by difficulties in identifying and describing feelings, with an externally oriented thinking style. While studies on traumatic brain injury, stroke and epilepsy show that these neurological patients have high rates of alexithymia, there are remarkably few reports on alexithymia in patients with MS. The objective of the present study was to further characterize findings of alexithymia in MS.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional case-control study included 180 patients with MS and a gender, age and schooling-matched control group of 180 individuals. They were all assessed using tools validated for traits of depression, anxiety and alexithymia. Demographic and clinical data were obtained during individual interviews.
Results: There were 126 women and 54 men in each group, with median age of 37 years and median schooling of 16 years. The median disease duration was eight years. Patients with MS presented higher degrees of depression (p< 0.01), anxiety (p=0.01) and alexithymia (p< 0.01) than did control subjects. For individuals with MS, depressive traits (p< 0.01), anxious traits (p=0.03), higher age (p=0.02), lower education level (p=0.02), higher degree of disability (p< 0.01) and not being part of the working force (p=0.03) had a significant influence on higher rates of alexithymia. Control subjects with higher age (p< 0.01) and lower schooling level (p< 0.01) had higher rates of alexithymia, although the participation in the working force did not affect their results.
Conclusion: Alexithymia was an important finding in patients with MS and should be addressed when psychological testing and care are considered for these individuals. Further studies will consider whether certain areas of brain lesions and volume loss might be relevant to the findings of alexithymia in MS.
Disclosure:
Yara Dadalti Fragoso, Audred Cristina Biondo Eboni, Mariana Cardoso, Felipe Moreira Dias, Paulo Diniz da Gama, Sidney Gomes, Marcus Vinicius Magno Goncalves, Suzana Costa Nunes Machado, Adaucto Wanderley da Nobrega Jr, Monica Fiuza K. Parolin, Sonia Castedo Paz, Heloisa Helena Ruocco, Claudio Scorcine, Fabio Siquinelli, Caroline Vieira Spessotto, and Carlos Bernardo Tauil declare no disclosures or conflicts of interest in this study. No financial support of any kind, no drugs or procedures involved.
Abstract: P820
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Therapy - symptomatic - 34 Quality of life
Introduction: Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by difficulties in identifying and describing feelings, with an externally oriented thinking style. While studies on traumatic brain injury, stroke and epilepsy show that these neurological patients have high rates of alexithymia, there are remarkably few reports on alexithymia in patients with MS. The objective of the present study was to further characterize findings of alexithymia in MS.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional case-control study included 180 patients with MS and a gender, age and schooling-matched control group of 180 individuals. They were all assessed using tools validated for traits of depression, anxiety and alexithymia. Demographic and clinical data were obtained during individual interviews.
Results: There were 126 women and 54 men in each group, with median age of 37 years and median schooling of 16 years. The median disease duration was eight years. Patients with MS presented higher degrees of depression (p< 0.01), anxiety (p=0.01) and alexithymia (p< 0.01) than did control subjects. For individuals with MS, depressive traits (p< 0.01), anxious traits (p=0.03), higher age (p=0.02), lower education level (p=0.02), higher degree of disability (p< 0.01) and not being part of the working force (p=0.03) had a significant influence on higher rates of alexithymia. Control subjects with higher age (p< 0.01) and lower schooling level (p< 0.01) had higher rates of alexithymia, although the participation in the working force did not affect their results.
Conclusion: Alexithymia was an important finding in patients with MS and should be addressed when psychological testing and care are considered for these individuals. Further studies will consider whether certain areas of brain lesions and volume loss might be relevant to the findings of alexithymia in MS.
Disclosure:
Yara Dadalti Fragoso, Audred Cristina Biondo Eboni, Mariana Cardoso, Felipe Moreira Dias, Paulo Diniz da Gama, Sidney Gomes, Marcus Vinicius Magno Goncalves, Suzana Costa Nunes Machado, Adaucto Wanderley da Nobrega Jr, Monica Fiuza K. Parolin, Sonia Castedo Paz, Heloisa Helena Ruocco, Claudio Scorcine, Fabio Siquinelli, Caroline Vieira Spessotto, and Carlos Bernardo Tauil declare no disclosures or conflicts of interest in this study. No financial support of any kind, no drugs or procedures involved.