Author: Hafiza Hafsa Mahmood
Supervisor: Humaira Naz, PhD
Degree: BS
Year: 2009-2013
University: Centre for Clinical Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The present study was aimed to investigate the relationship between Alexithymia and Psychosomatic severity in the patients with Anxiety and Depression. It was hypothesized that there would be difference of patients with Anxiety and Depression on Dimension of Alexithymia and Psychosomatic severity. Moreover, it was also hypothesized that there would be relationship between Dimensions of Alexithymia and Psychosomatic Severity in the patients with Anxiety and Depression. Mixed group research design was used in this study and convenient sampling was used for data collection. 110 patients (55 each disorder) both men and women with age range of 20-50, (M= 29.62, S.D = 8.58 for anxiety patients &M= 30.94, S.D = 0.51 for Depression patients) were selected from different government hospitals of Lahore city after taking consent from hospital authorities. Bermond-Vost Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ; Bermond & Vorst, 2001), and Patient Health questionnaire (PHQ; Spitzer, Kroenke & William, 1999) were used for the assessment of Alexithymia dimensions and Psychosomatic severity, respectively. The results of independent samples t-test indicated that there was no significant mean difference on dimensions of Alexithymia. Psychosomatic severity was reported to be high by patients with Depression. Additionally, gender difference showed that the women with Depressive disorder perceived more difficulty in identifying emotions than men. Furthermore, women with Anxiety and Depression reported more somatic symptoms that men. Correlation analysis revealed that the Dimension of Alexithymia i.e. verbalizing Emotions, Identifying Emotions and Analyzing and Psychosomatic severity had significant positive correlation among patients with anxiety and depression. But significant negative correlation was found between Emotionalizing and Psychosomatic severity in the patients with Anxiety. Furthermore, Analyzing and Emotionalizing were found the best predictors of Psychosomatic severity in the patients Anxiety. Whereas the Analyzing was found as the best predictors of Psychosomatic severity in the patients with Depression. The findings of this research study would be of etiological importance and could be useful in the formulation of management plan of patients with Anxiety and Depression having Somatic and Psychosomatic symptoms.
Keywords: Dimensions of Alexithymia, Severity of Psychosomatic symptoms, Depression, Anxiety.
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