Alexithymia and negative emotions in cancer patients: Mediating effects of intrusive thoughts / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore associations of negative emotions with alexithymia and intrusive thoughts in cancer patients.Methods:A total of 115 cancer patients were assessed by Impact of Event Scale-Revised,the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale,the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale,and the state anxiety subscales of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.Results:Negative emotions were positively correlated with alexithymia and the intrusive thoughts (r 0.251 to 0.600,P＜0.01).Intrusive thoughts were significantly associated with the total score of alexithymia,difficulty in identifying feelings,and difficulty in describing feelings (r 0.261 to 0.430,P＜0.01).The relation between alexithymia and negative emotions was partially mediated by intrusive thoughts,accounting for 40.71％ of the alexithymia in total negative emotions.Conclusion:Intrusive thoughts play a role,at least partially in mediation of alexithymia and negative emotions.