Psychosomatic interrelations in patients with ischemic heart disease and alexithymia

Relationship between personality trait alexithymia and traditional coronary risk factors (hypercholesterolemia, smoking, obesity) was studied in 350 men with ischemic heart disease. Patients were considered alexithymic if their total score of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26) was equal to or exceeded 74. Alexithymia was significantly more frequent in personality structure of patients with ischemic heart disease than in that of healthy subjects (44,1 and 18,4%, respectively, p<0,01). The use of MMPI test in patients with ischemic heart disease and alexithymia revealed lowered control and insufficient comprehension of emotions, inclination to hypochondriac personality development, and elevated stress-sensitivity with tendency to depressive type of reaction. Traditional coronary risk factors were significantly more frequent among patients with alexithymia.