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Alexithymie et psychopathologie de patients atteints de cancer

Alexithymia and psychopathology of patients with cancer

  • Synthèse / Review Article
  • Published:
Psycho-Oncologie

Résumé

Objectif

Décrire l’alexithymie chez des patients nouvellement diagnostiqués de cancer.

Méthode

Les données sociodémographiques, médicales et psychométriques (HADS, SCL-90, EORTC-QLQ-C30 et TAS-20) ont été enregistrées chez des patients récemment (< 4 mois) pris en charge pour un cancer.

Résultats

Chez 70% des 419 patients inclus dans l’étude, un score qualifiant pour un diagnostic d’alexithymie (TAS > 56) a été observé avec une corrélation négative avec les symptômes psychiatriques, qui par ailleurs ne dépassaient pas les seuils d’anxiété et de dépression mesurés avec le HADS, et une corrélation positive avec la qualité de vie.

Conclusion

La haute prévalence de l’alexithymie, considérée comme une protection, questionne la nécessité et le type d’éventuelles interventions psycho-oncologiques.

Abstract

Objective

To report the prevalence of alexithymia in patients recently diagnosed with cancer.

Methods

Sociodemographic, medical and psychometric variables (HADS, SCL-90, EORTC-QLQ-C30 and TAS-20) were recorded in patients recently (< 4 months) treated for cancer.

Result

In 70% of 419 patients included in the study, a score indicating alexithymia [Toronto alexithymia score (TAS) > 56) was negatively correlated with psychiatric symptoms, which did not surpass the threshold for anxiety and depression measured by the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and was positively correlated with quality of life.

Conclusion

The high prevalence of alexithymia, considered as a protection, questions the necessity and type of psychooncological interventions in this population.

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Correspondence to F. Stiefel.

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Forni, V., Stiefel, F., Krenz, S. et al. Alexithymie et psychopathologie de patients atteints de cancer. Psycho Oncologie 5, 208–213 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11839-011-0334-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11839-011-0334-2

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