Papciak A S, Feuerstein M, Belar C D, Pistone L
Int J Psychiatry Med. 1986;16(4):347-57. doi: 10.2190/adr9-ygfk-5l0u-cqw3.
Alexithymia is defined as a "lack of words for feelings." This deficiency has been suggested to play a role in the formation and maintenance of somatic symptoms. Prior research has found alexithymia prevalent in "classic" psychosomatic disorders. The present study examines the prevalence of alexithymia and its relationship to patient age, sex, and report of pain. The sample was 208 consecutive outpatients evaluated on a Behavioral Medicine Service and presenting with pain as a primary symptom. Results indicated that the prevalence of alexithymia in this study is consistent with prior research using inpatient pain patients and a similar MMPI alexithymia subscale. Additional analyses of the MMPI clinical and validity scales revealed that alexithymic patients were more defensive and presented themselves in a favorable manner reflecting a "normal" picture of mental health. It is suggested that alexithymia may play a role in chronic pain syndromes. Further research is needed to examine this deficiency and its potential etiological significance in these disorders.
述情障碍被定义为“缺乏表达情感的词汇”。这种缺陷被认为在躯体症状的形成和维持中起作用。先前的研究发现述情障碍在“经典”的心身疾病中普遍存在。本研究调查了述情障碍的患病率及其与患者年龄、性别和疼痛报告的关系。样本为208名连续在行为医学科就诊的门诊患者，他们以疼痛作为主要症状。结果表明，本研究中述情障碍的患病率与先前使用住院疼痛患者和类似的明尼苏达多相人格调查表（MMPI）述情障碍分量表的研究一致。对MMPI临床量表和效度量表的进一步分析显示，述情障碍患者更具防御性，并以反映心理健康“正常”状况的有利方式展现自己。有人提出述情障碍可能在慢性疼痛综合征中起作用。需要进一步研究来探讨这种缺陷及其在这些疾病中的潜在病因学意义。
