Alexithymia, coping, and illness behavior correlates of pain experience in cancer patients

Porcelli, Piero; Tulipani, Cinzia; Maiello, Evaristo; Cilenti, G.; Todarello, Orlando

doi:10.1002/pon.1115

Cited by 49 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Furthermore, consistent with earlier findings on the psychological aspects of cancer patients [6,29,30,31], at study entry we found that alexithymia – particularly the DIF and DDF components, poor adjustment to cancer, and impaired physical functioning – were independently related to higher pain experience. The improvement in pain perception was due to the contribution of both the reduction in alexithymia and the psychological intervention, which were related but independent.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

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Alexithymia and Cancer Pain: The Effect of Psychological Intervention

Tulipani

Morelli

Spedicato

et al. 2010

Psychother Psychosom

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Background: Alexithymia is likely to be involved in the pain experience of cancer patients, but the extent to which psychological interventions may modify both pain and alexithymia is unclear. Methods: A group of 52 consecutive cancer patients were enrolled in a 6-month multicomponent psychological intervention trial, and compared to 52 control patients who received standard medical care. Validated scales for pain, alexithymia, coping with disease, illness behavior, psychological distress, and psychosocial functioning were administered at baseline and 6 months later. Results: Pain was strongly associated with alexithymia and several psychological dimensions. Although at baseline patients in the intervention group had worse psychological and somatic health, at follow-up their level of pain intensity, alexithymia, and somatic concerns had significantly improved compared to control patients. Patients in the intervention group showed dramatic improvements in pain perception, alexithymia, and other psychological variables, while control patients showed an unexpected significant worsening of alexithymia, depression, and adjustment to disease. Multiple regression showed that psychological intervention and alexithymia were both independently associated with the reduction in pain perception. Conclusions: These findings confirm the close association between alexithymia and pain, and show that multicomponent psychological intervention may significantly reduce both alexithymia and cancer pain. Although the present findings need replication, they should strongly encourage clinicians to provide patients with psychological interventions targeting alexithymic difficulties and helping patients to cope better with both feelings and somatic perception.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…In a previous cross-sectional study, we showed that alexithymia (particularly difficulty in identifying feelings) was closely related to pain in cancer patients [6]; thus, paving the way to the hypothesis that the improvement in affect awareness might also lead to a relative improvement in the experience of cancer-related pain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alexithymia and Cancer Pain: The Effect of Psychological Intervention

Tulipani

Morelli

Spedicato

et al. 2010

Psychother Psychosom

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“…Of these studies, three found no differences in alexithymia scores between men and women [32,33,34] and one study reported a higher prevalence in men having survived childhood cancer [27]. One study identified a higher prevalence of alexithymia in older cancer patients [26], which was not confirmed by two other studies [33,34]. Education was not related to alexithymia in patients with cancer [33].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…Five studies focused on cancer patient characteristics and prevalence of alexithymia [26,27,32,33,34]. Of these studies, three found no differences in alexithymia scores between men and women [32,33,34] and one study reported a higher prevalence in men having survived childhood cancer [27].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alexithymia in Cancer Patients: Review of the Literature

Vries

Forni

Voellinger

et al. 2012

Psychother Psychosom

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Objective: To summarize the literature on alexithymia in cancer patients. Methods: The empirical literature published between 1972 and January 2010 was searched through MEDLINE, PSYINFO, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. Key words were: alexithymia, affective symptoms, cancer, neoplasms. Results: The search identified 16 relevant studies which are methodologically problematic and show conflicting results. However, several interesting hypotheses emerge such as a possible link between alexithymia and the immune system, between alexithymia and quality of life, or between alexithymia, anxiety and depression. The question to what degree alexithymia in cancer patients is a trait or a state cannot be answered by these studies. Conclusions: A lack of methodologically sound studies and the large variations of results among studies suggest that the role of alexithymia in patients with cancer deserves more systematic research. Consequently, studies are needed which investigate the nature (state or trait) of alexithymia, its impact on cancer development and progression, as well as its influence on compliance and on the underestimation of psychological distress and psychiatric outcome in cancer patients.

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“…However, the relationship between cancer and alexithymia has been addressed more to find out its etiological role as a mediator in immune system functioning (Kojima, 2012;Manna et al, 2007), while its influence on quality of life has been explored less. Some studies on breast cancer note a negative effect of alexithymia on well-being (De Vries, Forni, Voellinger, & Stiefel, 2012) through other variables, such as high anxiety and depression (Luminet, Rokbani, Ogez, & Jadoulle, 2007), little social support (Boinon et al, 2012), illnessrelated stress (Jensen-Johansen et al, 2013) or pain (Porcelli, Tulipani, Maiello, Cilenti, & Todarello, 2007).…”

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confidence: 99%

Coordinación emocional en el afrontamiento del cáncer: alexitimia, apego y estrategias de afrontamiento como predictores de bienestar emocional en mujeres sometidas a radioterapia

Alonso¹,

Ezama²,

Gómez³

2017

Rev. iberoam. psicol. salud

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ABSTRACT. The purpose of this study was to deepen our understanding of how to support the emotional well-being of patients subjected to cancer treatment. It was based on the idea that cancer and its treatment make vital demand on the patient and that successful adjustment to their new situation requires good emotional coordination with those closest to them. In a cross-sectional study, 54 women with cancer (breast and lymphoma) about to begin radiotherapy reported on questionnaires on symptom severity, coping strategies, alexithymia, attachment, affect, and emotional well-being. Predictive value of the rest of the variables on affect and well-being was analyzed by multiple linear regression. Perceived severity of symptoms was relevant for predicting affect and emotional well-being. Strong Fear of rejection and abandonment was the best predictor of negative affect, while the alexithymia component Difficulty identifying feelings was the best predictor of positive affect. A problem-solving coping style was also relevant for positive and negative affect. The interpersonal nature of the variables studied is discussed, along with the need to include them to prevent risk of worse adjustment to the consequences of the illness. KEYWORDS: Alexithymia, Attachment, Coping with cancer, Psychological well-being.Coordinación emocional en el afrontamiento del cáncer: alexitimia, apego y estrategias de afrontamiento como predictores de bienestar emocional en mujeres sometidas a radioterapia RESUMEN. El objetivo del estudio es aportar conocimientos sobre cómo favorecer el bienestar emocional de pacientes en tratamiento por cáncer. Se parte de que el cáncer exige enfrentarse a tareas vitales para cuya resolución exitosa se requiere una buena coordinación emocional con las personas cercanas. En un estudio transversal, 54 mujeres con cáncer (mama y linfoma) a punto de comenzar radioterapia informaron a través de cuestionarios sobre: gravedad de los síntomas, modos de afrontamiento de la enfermedad, alexitimia, vínculo de apego, afectos positivos y negativos y bienestar emocional. Se analizó mediante regresión lineal múltiple el valor predictivo sobre los afectos y el bienestar del resto de variables. La gravedad percibida de los síntomas resulta relevante para predecir los afectos y el bienestar emocional. Un alto Temor al rechazo y al abandono es el mejor predictor de los afectos negativos, mientas el componente de la alexitimia Dificultad para identificar emociones lo es de los positivos. El estilo de afrontamiento orientado a la solución también resulta relevante para los afectos positivos y negativos. Se discute sobre el carácter interpersonal de las variables estudiadas y sobre la necesidad de incluirlas en la prevención del riesgo de peor ajuste a las consecuencias de la enfermedad.

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Alexithymia, coping, and illness behavior correlates of pain experience in cancer patients

Cited by 49 publications

References 44 publications

Alexithymia and Cancer Pain: The Effect of Psychological Intervention

Alexithymia and Cancer Pain: The Effect of Psychological Intervention

Alexithymia in Cancer Patients: Review of the Literature

Coordinación emocional en el afrontamiento del cáncer: alexitimia, apego y estrategias de afrontamiento como predictores de bienestar emocional en mujeres sometidas a radioterapia

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