Alexithymia, depression, anxiety and binge eating in obese women
Eur. j. psychiatry
; 27(3): 149-159, jul.-sept. 2013. tab
Article
in English
| IBECS
| ID: ibc-117380
Responsible library:
ES1.1
Localization: BNCS
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives:
Alexithymia is a personality trait that may affect the development and course of obesity and effectiveness of treatment. The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of alexithymia in obese women beginning a weight reduction program and determine the relationships between alexithymia and anxiety, depression, and binge eating.Methods:
Obese women (n = 100; age 45 ± 13 yr) completed the following self-report inventories Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS 26), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Binge Eating Scale (BES).Results:
Alexithymia was found in 46 patients and was more frequent among women who had attained only primary and vocational education than in those with a higher education level (39.1% vs. 10.9%; p = 0.002) and in those >45 years old than in younger women (30.4% vs. 69.6%; p = 0.03). The frequency of severe depression symptoms was higher in alexithymic women than in non-alexithymic women (19.6% vs. 5.6%; p = 0.03); however, the anxiety state was equally prevalent in both subgroups. The prevalence of alexithymia (52.6% vs. 44.4%) and its level (73.2 ± 8.9 vs. 71.2 ± 11.3 points) were similar in women with and without binge eating disorder. Multivariate mixed linear regression analysis revealed that higher body mass index was associated with primary and vocational education (odds ratio [OR] = 16.69) and severe depression symptoms (OR = 52.45), but not alexithymia.Conclusions:
In addition to severe depression and low education level, obesity may predispose for the development of alexithymia. However, alexithymia does not affect the severity of obesity in women (AU)
Full text:
Available
Collection:
National databases
/
Spain
Database:
IBECS
Main subject:
Anxiety
/
Affective Symptoms
/
Depression
/
Obesity
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur. j. psychiatry
Year:
2013
Document type:
Article
Institution/Affiliation country:
Day-care Psychiatric Ward "Feniks"/Poland
/
Medical University of Silesia/Poland
/
Obesity Management Clinic "Waga/Poland