The Effect of Alexithymia on Somatization and Sleep Quality in Patients with Depression Depresyon Hastalarında Aleksitiminin Bedenselleştirme ve Uyku Kalitesi Üzerine Etkisi

Cor res pon den ce Ad dress/Ya z›fl ma Ad re si: Adem Aydın MD, Yüzüncü Yıl University, Medical Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Van, Turkey E-mail: [email protected] Re cei ved/Ge liş ta ri hi: 13.10.2011 Ac cep ted/Ka bul ta ri hi: 07.11.2011 © Arc hi ves of Neu ropsy chi atry, pub lis hed by Ga le nos Pub lis hing / © Nö rop si ki yat ri Ar şi vi Der gi si, Ga le nos Ya yı ne vi ta ra f›n dan ba s›l m›fl t›r. ABS TRACT Background: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of alexithymia on sleep quality and tendency to somatization in patients with depression. Methods: Eighty-five patients with depression, who applied to the outpatient unit of psychiatry, were included in the study. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), Symptom Interpretation Questionnaire (SIQ), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered to the patients. Results: Depressive patients were divided into two groups: alexithymic patients and non-alexithymic patients. There were significant differences in scores of BDI, psychologizing and somatizing subscale of the SIQ and daytime dysfunction subscale of the PSQI in alexithymic patients. Conclusion: It was found that depressive patients have higher levels of alexithymic features and somatization tendencies in this study. Moreover, alexithymic patients have more frequent psychological and somatic attributions and increased loss of daytime functionality. (Arc hi ves of Neu ropsy chi atry 2013; 50: 65-69)