Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
J Psychosom Res. 2010 Feb;68(2):139-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.07.015. Epub 2009 Nov 17.
As a personality trait, alexithymia is assumed to present a longstanding risk factor for emotional dysregulation that also affects the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, we hypothesize that alexithymia is associated with hypertension and carotid atherosclerosis in the general population.
A total of 1168 subjects (age <65 years) from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) were eligible for complete case analyses. Alexithymia was assessed with the 20-item Toronto-Alexithymia-Scale (TAS-20). An extensive interview and physical examination were performed. Extracranial carotid arteries were examined bilaterally with B-mode ultrasonography. Regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic factors and classical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and mental distress.
In the adjusted logistic regression models, alexithymia was significantly associated with hypertension (OR=1.60; 95% CI=1.14-2.25) and with atherosclerotic plaques (OR=1.70; 95% CI=1.14-2.54). Hypertension changed the effect of alexithymia on atherosclerosis only marginally (OR=1.76 to 1.70).
Alexithymia may represent a relevant and independent risk factor for hypertension and carotid atherosclerosis at the population level. None of the putative confounders mediated a relevant proportion of the risk. Prospective studies are needed to confirm this association.
作为一种人格特质，述情障碍被认为是情绪调节障碍的长期风险因素，也会影响自主神经系统。因此，我们假设述情障碍与普通人群中的高血压和颈动脉粥样硬化有关。
共有 1168 名（年龄<65 岁）来自波罗的海健康研究（SHIP）的受试者符合完整病例分析的条件。述情障碍采用 20 项多伦多述情障碍量表（TAS-20）进行评估。进行了广泛的访谈和体检。双侧用 B 型超声检查颅外颈动脉。回归模型调整了社会人口因素以及心血管疾病和精神困扰的经典危险因素。
在调整后的逻辑回归模型中，述情障碍与高血压（OR=1.60；95%CI=1.14-2.25）和动脉粥样硬化斑块（OR=1.70；95%CI=1.14-2.54）显著相关。高血压仅略微改变了述情障碍对动脉粥样硬化的影响（OR=1.76 至 1.70）。
述情障碍可能代表人群中高血压和颈动脉粥样硬化的一个相关且独立的危险因素。没有任何假定的混杂因素对风险产生了重要的影响。需要前瞻性研究来证实这种关联。
