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SHR Neuro Cancer Cardio Lipid Metab Microb
Gil, FP; Bidlingmaier, M; Ridout, N; Scheidt, CE; Caton, S; Schoechlin, C; Nickel, M.
The relationship between alexithymia and salivary cortisol levels in somatoform disorders.
Nord J Psychiatry. 2008; 62(5):366-373
Doi: 10.1080/08039480801983554
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- Co-authors Med Uni Graz
- Nickel-Palczynski Marius
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- Abstract:
- The purpose of this study was to investigate cortisol levels as a function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) in relation to alexithymia in patients with somatoform disorders (SFD). Diurnal salivary cortisol was sampled in 32 patients with SFD who also underwent a psychiatric examination and filled in questionnaires (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS scale; Screening for Somatoform Symptoms, SOMS scale; Hamilton Depression Scale, HAMD). The mean TAS total score in the sample was 55.6+/-9.6, 32% of patients being classified as alexithymic on the basis of their TAS scores. Depression scores were moderate (HAMD=13.2, Beck Depression Inventory, BDI=16.5). The patients' alexithymia scores (TAS scale "Difficulty identifying feelings") correlated significantly positively with their somatization scale scores (Symptom Checklist-90 Revised, SCL-90-R); r=0.3438 (P<0.05) and their scores on the Global Severity Index (GSI) on the SCL-90-R; r=0.781 (P<0.01). Regression analysis was performed with cortisol variables as the dependent variables. Cortisol levels [measured by the area under the curve-ground (AUC-G), area under the curve-increase (AUC-I) and morning cortisol (MCS)] were best predicted in a multiple linear regression model by lower depressive scores (HAMD) and more psychopathological symptoms (SCL-90-R). No significant correlations were found between the patients' alexithymia scores (TAS) and cortisol levels. The healthy control group (n=25) demonstrated significantly higher cortisol levels than did the patients with SFD; in both tests P<0.001 for AUC-G and AUC-I. However, the two groups did not differ in terms of their mean morning cortisol levels (P>0.05). The results suggest that pre-existing hypocortisolism might possibly be associated with SFD.
- Find related publications in this database (using NLM MeSH Indexing)
- Adult -
- Affective Symptoms - complications
- Area Under Curve -
- Depressive Disorder - diagnosis
- Female -
- Humans -
- Hydrocortisone - metabolism
- Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - metabolism
- Male -
- Middle Aged -
- Pituitary-Adrenal System - metabolism
- Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics and numerical data
- Questionnaires -
- Saliva - metabolism
- Severity of Illness Index -
- Somatoform Disorders - complications
- Stress, Psychological - complications
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- alexithymia
- cortisol
- Somatoform disorders