Alexithymia in patients with coronary heart disease

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with alexithymia in patients (n = 153) with coronary heart disease (CHD) verifi ed by coronary angiography. Method: Self-rated depression was assessed usin g 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and other psychiatric symptoms wi th Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90). Life satisfaction was assessed using a s eparate scale. The Structured Clinical Interview (SCID I and II) for DSM-II I-R was used to identify mental disorders. Assessments took place 1 day bef ore angiography. Results: Twenty-one percent of CHD patients (n = 32) were assessed as being alexithymic according to the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (T AS-20). Alexithymics were more often blue-collar workers, incapable of work ing, dissatisfied with life, and depressed than the other CHD patients. Occ urrences of mental disorders were not associated with alexithymia. Logistic regression analysis revealed that factors independently associated with al exithymia were currently or previously being a blue-collar worker (adjusted odds ratio, AOR: 4.8), self-rated depression (AOR: 3.2), and dissatisfacti on with life (AOR: 2.9). Conclusion: In CHD patients alexithymia was unrela ted to cardiovascular risk factors or exercise capacity but was related to self-rated depression and decreased life satisfaction. Alexithymia is assoc iated with the enhanced psychosocial burden of suffering CHD. This patient group may need more individual support and attention than other CHD patient s. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.