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examination of alexithymia in a non-treatment seeking population of acute and chronic pain sufferers

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Date Issued:
2007
Summary:
Difficulty in communicating internal states may interfere with medical assessment of pain conditions. Individuals who score high on an assessment measure of a construct called alexithymia have difficulty in describing and/or identifying emotions. Both diffuse and low verbal communication styles have been related to alexithymia in chronic pain patients. Alexithymia has also been linked with pain intensity and various chronic pain conditions. As yet, research has not examined whether alexithymia and acute pain are related. The current research examined high-functioning individuals with chronic, acute, or no pain. No difference in alexithymia levels was found between the groups. However, pain intensity was related to difficulty in identifying feelings, and participants who scored high in alexithymia produced a low number of words per sentence in pain descriptions.
Title: An examination of alexithymia in a non-treatment seeking population of acute and chronic pain sufferers.
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Name(s): Ramm, Karen L.
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Thesis
Issuance: multipart monograph
Date Issued: 2007
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Physical Form: electronic
electronic resource
Extent: v, 19 leaves : ill.
Language(s): English
Summary: Difficulty in communicating internal states may interfere with medical assessment of pain conditions. Individuals who score high on an assessment measure of a construct called alexithymia have difficulty in describing and/or identifying emotions. Both diffuse and low verbal communication styles have been related to alexithymia in chronic pain patients. Alexithymia has also been linked with pain intensity and various chronic pain conditions. As yet, research has not examined whether alexithymia and acute pain are related. The current research examined high-functioning individuals with chronic, acute, or no pain. No difference in alexithymia levels was found between the groups. However, pain intensity was related to difficulty in identifying feelings, and participants who scored high in alexithymia produced a low number of words per sentence in pain descriptions.
Identifier: 314393662 (oclc), 11606 (digitool), FADT11606 (IID), fau:1338 (fedora)
Note(s): by Karen L. Ramm.
Thesis (B.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, Honors College, 2007.
Bibliography: leaves 14-16.
Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2007. Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Subject(s): Emotions -- Health aspects
Alexithymia
Evidence-based medicine
Mind and body
Somatoform disorders
Medicine and psychology
Held by: FBoU FAUER
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/11606
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Host Institution: FAU

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