수면정신생리

수면정신생리 (9권1호 56-60)

Alexithymia in Patients with Tension-Type Headache

긴장성 두통 환자에서의 감정표현 불능증

Shin, Dong-In;Ham, Byung-Joo;Kwon, Ho-In;Park, Gun-Woo;Kim, Leen;Suh, Kwang-Yun;

Department of Neuropsychiatry, Korea University, College of Medicine;Department of Neuropsychiatry, Korea University, College of Medicine;Department of Neuropsychiatry, Korea University, College of Medicine;Department of Neuropsychiatry, Korea University, College of Medicine;Department of Neuropsychiatry, Korea University, College of Medicine;Department of Neuropsychiatry, Korea University, College of Medicine;

Abstract

Objective: Various psychological factors influence the occurrence of tension-type headaches. 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 in 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 headaches, the more alexithymic they are, the more depressive.

Keywords

Tension-type headache;Alexithymia;Depression;