Health-related quality-of-life profiles in nonalexithymic and alexithymic subjects from general population

Mattila, Aino K.; Saarni, Samuli I.; Alanen, Erkki; Salminen, Jouko K.; Kronholm, Erkki; Jula, Antti; Sintonen, Harri; Joukamaa, Matti

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.09.010

« Previous Next »Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 68, Issue 3 , Pages 279-283, March 2010

Health-related quality-of-life profiles in nonalexithymic and alexithymic subjects from general population

Aino K. Mattila
- Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- Corresponding author. Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Finland.
Samuli I. Saarni
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
Erkki Alanen
- Laboratory for Population Research, Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Turku, Finland
Jouko K. Salminen
- Laboratory for Population Research, Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Turku, Finland
Erkki Kronholm
- Laboratory for Population Research, Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Turku, Finland
Antti Jula
- Laboratory for Population Research, Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Turku, Finland
Harri Sintonen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Matti Joukamaa
- Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland

Received 3 October 2008; received in revised form 17 August 2009; accepted 17 September 2009. published online 07 December 2009.

Abstract

Objective

Earlier studies have shown an association between alexithymia and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). There has been some controversy as to whether this is attributable solely to psycho-social domains of HRQoL or also to physical domains. Furthermore, there are no studies on HRQoL profiles in representative general population samples controlling for sociodemographic variables, mental health and somatic health.

Methods

The study forms part of the Health 2000 Study. Altogether 5090 participants from general population, aged 30-97 years, filled in the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the 15D HRQoL scale. Depressive and anxiety disorders were assessed in a structured psychiatric interview. Physical health was examined by physicians. The 15-dimension HRQoL profiles of both alexithymic and non-alexithymic subjects were obtained by analysis of covariance, controlling for sociodemographic and health-related variables.

Results

The alexithymic group had significantly (P<.001) lower mean scores on every dimension of the 15D even after controlling for confounding demographic variables, somatic diagnoses and depressive and anxiety disorders. The differences were greatest in the psycho-social domains.

Conclusions

Alexithymia seems to be a personality trait with a statistically significant association to every dimension of HRQoL, not only to psychosocial domains. However, the associations between alexithymia and some somatic dimensions may be of little clinical significance.

Keywords: Alexithymia, Health-related quality of life, General population, Personality, TAS-20, 15D