Alexithymia in Patients with Tension-Type Headache

Shin, D I; Ham, B J; Kwon, H I; Park, K W; Kim, L; Suh, K Y

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Various psychological factors influence the occurrence of tension-type headahes. The aim of this study is to compare the level of alexithymia between tension-type headache patients and normal controls.
METHODS
Sixty-six subjects with tension-type headaches and 59 controls were studied. The Beck Depression Inventory and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20K) were administered to the tension-type headache group and TAS-20K to the normal control group.
RESULTS
Compared with normal controls, the tension-type headache group had significantly higher alexithymia scores. There was also significant association between the level of alexithymia and the severity of the depression on tension-type headache patients.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that patients with tension-type headaches have difficulty in expressing their emotions. And in patients with tension-type teadaches, the more alexithymic they are, the more depressive.