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Obesity, alexithymia and psychopathology: A case-control study

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between psychopathology and alexithymia in obese patients is uncertain. The present study was performed to evaluate this relationship in a clinical sample of patients attending a centre for the diagnosis and treatment of obesity compared to a matched sample of non-obese subjects. METHODS: 293 consecutive obese patients (48 males, 245 females, mean age 45, 41±13.55 yrs; mean BMI 35.60±6.20) were compared with a control group made of 293 non-obese subjects (48 males, 245 females, mean age 45, 66±13.86 yrs; mean BMI 21.8±2.06); all subjects were interviewed by means of SCID I and SCID II together with several self-evaluation instruments including the TAS-20 (Toronto Alexithymia Scale) and SCL-90 (Symptom Check List, Revised). RESULTS: Alexithymia was significantly more frequent among obese patients compared to “normal” controls (12.9% vs 6.9%, p=0.010); moreover obese patients achieved significantly higher mean scores on subscales 1 and 2 and on overall scale of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale; comorbidity with axis I/II disorders, in particular Binge Eating Disorder, was associated with a significantly higher frequency of alexithymic traits and higher scores at TAS. CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymia and psychopathology are strongly correlated among obese patients seeking treatment. Routine evaluation of personality traits and comorbid psychopathology may be relevant in treatment of obesity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Cagliari, Via Liguria 13, 09127, Cagliari, Italy

    F. Pinna, L. Lai, S. Pirarba &  B. Carpiniello

  2. “H. Shultz” Institute, Cagliari, Italy

    W. Orrù

  3. Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity, University Policlinic, Cagliari, Italy

    F. Velluzzi & A. Loviselli

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  1. F. Pinna
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  2. L. Lai
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  3. S. Pirarba
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  5. F. Velluzzi
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  6. A. Loviselli
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  7. B. Carpiniello
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Correspondence to B. Carpiniello.

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Pinna, F., Lai, L., Pirarba, S. et al. Obesity, alexithymia and psychopathology: A case-control study. Eat Weight Disord 16, e164–e170 (2011). https://doi.org/10.3275/7509

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