Alexithymia in patients with dermatological disorders and chronic pruritus

Abstract

Background. Alexithymia is a psychological phenomenon that often accompanies psychosomatic states and manifestations.
 Objective – to study the severity and features of the manifestation of alexithymia in patients with a dermatological profile with chronic pruritus syndrome.
 Materials and methods. At medical center “Asklepius” during 2016-2018 years, observed 134 patients with dermatological disorders with chronic pruritus. 62.7% of patients had atopic dermatitis, 23.9% had psoriasis and 13.4% had seborrheic dermatitis. Patients’ age ranged from 21 to 56 years. Women accounted for 65.7%, men – 34.3%. In study we used such research methods: psychodiagnostic, including the computer application “Electronic calculator of chronic pruritus” and TAS-20-r, statistical.
 Results. Patients with dermatologic pathology had high level of alexithymia (66,56±8,66 in patients with atopic dermatitis, 68,5±8,12 in patients with psoriasis, 68,17±7,85 in patients with seborrheic dermatitis). High level of alexithymia characterized by difficulties in recognizing emotions (26,04±4,19 in patients with atopic dermatitis, 27,22±3,5 in patients with psoriasis, 26,0±3,56 in patients with seborrheic dermatitis), describing feelings (17,71±2,27 in patients with atopic dermatitis, 18,03±2,25 in patients with psoriasis, 18,28±2,16 in patients with seborrheic dermatitis), focusing on thinking (22,81±3,29 in patients with atopic dermatitis, 23,25±3,32 in patients with psoriasis, 23,89±3,63 in patients with seborrheic dermatitis), and depreciated emotions as a psychological phenomenon. In patients with dermatological diseases found combination of high intensity of chronic pruritus with high levels of alexithymia.
 Conclusions. Psychocorrection of high level of alexithymia is an important component of a complex psychological help for patients with dermatological diseases and chronic pruritus.