| Interpersonal problems in alexithymia: A study in three primary care groups. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20152068 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Objectives The present study investigated the relation between alexithymia and interpersonal problems in a sample of primary care patients with either chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); a chronic cardiovascular or auto-immune disease; or a minor medical condition. It was hypothesized that the relation between cold interpersonal functioning would account for the differences in alexithymia scores between the patient groups. Design and methods Participants were 155 primary care patients that were recruited through 52 general practitioners: 52 CFS patients; 52 patients with a chronic cardiovascular or auto-immune disease; 51 patients with a minor medical condition. Interpersonal problems were assessed by means of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems and alexithymia was assessed by means of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Results CFS patients and patients with a chronic cardiovascular or auto-immune disease have substantially higher alexithymia scores than patients with a minor medical condition. Alexithymia is positively related to cold and distant interpersonal functioning; negatively related to self-sacrificing and overly accommodating in relation to others; and positively related to vindictiveness and self-centredness. The relation between alexithymia and these interpersonal problems accounts for the differences in alexithymia scores between the patient groups. Conclusions Alexithymia and interpersonal problems should be considered together, in terms of one deficient affect regulatory system, and the relation between alexithymia and specific illness conditions is secondary to this. Clinical assessment of patients with problems in naming and discussing affective states should never be isolated from an examination of their interpersonal problems, and vice versa. Mentalization-based therapy is recommended for patients with problems in naming affective states, interpersonal problems, and concomitant CFS or other alexithymia-related diseases. |
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Authors:
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Stijn Vanheule; Jan Vandenbergen; Paul Verhaeghe; Mattias Desmet |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2010-2-11 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Psychology and psychotherapy Volume: - ISSN: 1476-0835 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2010 Feb |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-2-15 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101135751 Medline TA: Psychol Psychother Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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