Alexithymia, Hostility and Depression in Patients Suffering from Somatic Diseases

Balta GT, Karachalios T, Tsikrikas T, Angelopoulos NV

Purpose: To investigate the presence of Alexithymia, Hostility and Depression in patients suffering from acute and chronic somatic illnesses.

Methodology: 210 individuals participated: 55 patients with acute somatic illnesses, 47 patients with chronic somatic illnesses and 108 healthy subjects. They were assessed with the Beck Depression Index (BDI-21), the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire (HDHQ). Data selected and analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS).

Results: Chronic somatic patients exhibited higher scores on Depression and Alexithymia, compared to acute somatic patients (p<.000), while acute somatic patients exhibited higher Hostility scores, compared to chronic patients (p<.000). Both groups exhibited higher Depression, Alexithymia and Hostility scores compared to healthy subjects (p<.000).

Conclusions: Psychiatric symptomatology  in patients suffering from chronic somatic illnesses differs from psychiatric symptomatology  in patients suffering from acute somatic illnesses, when Depression, Alexithymia and Hostility were examined.

https://doi.org/10.31871/IJNTR.2.8.10