The role of alexithymia in non-psychotic mental disorders’ development in patients with primary hypothyroidism

Abstract

In the formation of non-psychotic psychiatric disorders in patients with thyroid pathologies are important neurohumoral mechanisms, and one reason is psychosomatic relationships. The modern concept of relationships includes alexithymia model. The situation of chronic physical illness is regarded by many authors as one that provokes a crisis of mental development (and in fact, identity crisis) and therefore is a traumatic situation, that is a risk factor for the development of mental disorder. The aim of the study was to investigate the alexithymia level in patients with primary hypothyroidism. We used Toronto Alexithymia scale proposed by Taylor G. 50 patients with hypofunction of the thyroid gland were investigated. In a study of 42 patients (84%) had a rate alexithymia more than 74 points, 12% of patients were classified as areas of uncertainty and only 4% of patients according to the method proved non-alexithymic. It was found that patients with an uncertain alexithymia level had difficulties in describing their inner feelings, did not give much attention to the absence of well-being in the emotional sphere, believed that painful symptoms of mental health problems are caused by only thyroid pathologies, even during sighting surveys ignored the presence of emotional stress and conflict experiences that showed a reduced capacity for understanding and expressing their own feelings, low emotional resonance. Thus, psychotherapeutic and psycho-corrective work with such patients should take into consideration alexithymia radical in the personal structure of such patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.