Alexithymia Is Associated with Greater Risk of Chronic Pain and Negative Affect and with Lower Life Satisfaction in a General Population: The Hisayama Study

摘要: Introduction Chronic pain is a significant health problem worldwide, with prevalence in the general population of approximately 40%. Alexithymia — personality trait having difficulties emotional awareness and self-regulation has been reported to contribute an increased risk several chronic diseases conditions, limited research indicates potential role for alexithymia development maintenance pain. However, no study yet examined associations between population. Methods We administered measures assessing alexithymia, pain, disability, anxiety, depression, life satisfaction 927 adults Hisayama, Japan. We classified participants into four groups (low-normal middle-normal high-normal alexithymic) based on their responses measure. calculated estimates criterion by logistic regression analysis. Results Controlling demographic variables, odds ratio (OR) was significantly higher (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.07–2.09) alexithymic 2.56, 1.47–4.45) compared low-normal group. Approximately 40% belonged these two high-risk groups. In subanalyses 439 levels intensity, anxiety were degree decreased elevating categories. Conclusions The findings demonstrate that, population, are associated The early identification treatment negative affect may be beneficial preventing reducing clinical economic burdens Further needed determine if this association due causal effect severity