Alexithymia in women with deep endometriosis? A pilot study

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of alexithymia in a group of patients with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, and compare the results obtained, with those for a group of healthy controls. Methods: Forty-one patients with pain and surgical diagnosis of deep endometriosis and 40 healthy controls were recruited for the study. All subjects were assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Moreover, the intensity of chronic pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea in patients was evaluated using a modified version of the Biberoglu-Behrman pain scale. In addition, the patients' state of general health was investigated with the SF-36. Results: A positive score for alexithymia was achieved in 14.6% (n = 6) of patients with endometriosis, while the condition was absent in the control group. Alexithymia was indeterminate in 29.3% (n = 12) and 12.5% (n = 5) of patients and controls, respectively, and absent in 56.1% (n = 22) and 87.5% (n = 35). Intergroup differences were significant for 3 factors evaluated by the TAS-20. Discussion: The present study underlined how women with endometriosis are significantly more alexithymic compared with controls.