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.
Références
Bagby RM, Taylor GJ, Parker JD (1994) The Twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale-II. Convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. J Psychosom Res 38(1):33–40
Bermond B, Moormann PP, Albach F, et al (2008) Impact of severe childhood sexual abuse on the development of alexithymia in adulthood. Psychother Psychosom 77(4):260–262
Bouvard M, Fontaine-Buffe M, Cungi C, et al (1999) Preliminary studies of the structured diagnostic interview for personality disorders: SCID II. Encephale 25(5):416–421
Corcos M (2003) Psychopathologie de l’alexithymie. In: Dunod ed., Paris
Derogatis L (1977) SCL-90: administration, scoring & procedures manual for the revised version. John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore
De Vries AMM, Forni V, Voellinger R, et al (2011) Alexithymia in patients with cancer: a review of the literature. Psychother Psychosom (in presse)
Fortin MF, Coutu-Wakulczyk G, Engelsmann F (1989) Contribution to the validation of the SCL-90-R in French-speaking women. Health Care Women Int 10(1):27–41
Freyberger H (1977) Supportive psychotherapeutic techniques in primary and secondary alexithymia. Psychother Psychosom 28(1–4):337–342
Grassi L, Rossi E, Sabato S, et al (2004) Diagnostic criteria for psychosomatic research and psychosocial variables in breast cancer patients. Psychosomatics 45(6):483–491
Gregory RJ, Manring J, Berry SL (2000) Pain location and psychological characteristics of patients with chronic pain. Psychosomatics 41(3):216–220
Jimerson DC, Wolfe BE, Franko DL, et al (1994) Alexithymia ratings in bulimia nervosa: clinical correlates. Psychosom Med 56(2):90–93
Kokkonen P, Karvonen JT, Veijola J, et al (2001) Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of alexithymia in a population sample of young adults. Compr Psychiatry 42(6):471–476
Kooiman CG, Spinhoven P, Trijsburg RW (2002) The assessment of alexithymia: a critical review of the literature and a psychometric study of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. J Psychosom Res 53(6):1083–1090
Krystal JH, Giller EL Jr, Cicchetti DV (1986) Assessment of alexithymia in posttraumatic stress disorder and somatic illness: introduction of a reliable measure. Psychosom Med 48(1–2): 84–94
Lumley MA, Stettner L, Wehmer F (1996) How are alexithymia and physical illness linked? A review and critique of pathways. J Psychosom Res 41(6):505–518
Mattila AK, Salminen JK, Nummi T, et al (2006) Age is strongly associated with alexithymia in the general population. J Psychosom Res 61(5):629–635
Ripetti V, Ausania F, Bruni R, et al (2008) Quality of life following colorectal cancer surgery: the role of alexithymia. Eur Surg Res 41(4):324–330
Sifneos PE (1973) The prevalence of ‘alexithymic’ characteristics in psychosomatic patients. Psychother Psychosom 22(2):255–262
Taylor GJ, Bagby RM, Parker JD (1991) The alexithymia construct. A potential paradigm for psychosomatic medicine. Psychosomatics Spring 32(2):153–164
Taylor GJ, Parker JD, Bagby RM, et al (1996) Relationships between alexithymia and psychological characteristics associated with eating disorders. J Psychosom Res 41(6):561–568
Todarello O, Casamassima A, Daniele S, et al (1997) Alexithymia, immunity and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: replication. Psychother Psychosom 66(4):208–213
Todarello O, Casamassima A, Marinaccio M, et al (1994) Alexithymia, immunity and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a pilot study. Psychother Psychosom 61(3–4):199–204
Todarello O, La Pesa MW, Zaka S, et al (1989) Alexithymia and breast cancer. Survey of 200 women undergoing mammography. Psychother Psychosom 51(1):51–55
Yehuda R, Steiner A, Kahana B, et al (1997) Alexithymia in Holocaust survivors with and without PTSD. J Trauma Stress 10(1):93–100
Zigmond AS, Snaith RP (1983) The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand 67(6):361–370
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
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
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11839-011-0334-2