ALEXITHYMIA AND SOMATIZATION - RELATIONSHIP TO DSM-III-R DIAGNOSES

In previous studies, results from psychometric measures suggested an a ssociation between alexithymia and somatization. However, alexithymia has not been examined in relation to somatoform disorders and other st andard psychiatric diagnoses. In the present study, the prevalence of DSM-III-R diagnoses was determined by SCID interviews among 45 psychia tric inpatients with functional somatic syndromes. In addition, the To ronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) and the SCL-90-R were administered. Of t he sample, 42.2% scored in the alexithymic range of the TAS. The alexi thymic patients presented significantly more psychological turmoil and overall psychopathology on the SCL-90-R, as well as a significantly h igher number of current DSM-III-R diagnoses. However, alexithymia was unrelated to DSM-III-R somatoform disorders and other DSM-III-R diagno ses, as well as the course of illness. These results suggest that asse ssing clinical features in addition to psychometric measures seems to be necessary for further validating the potential role of the alexithy mia construct in somatic symptom formation.