Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Grabe, Hans Joergen
• Schwahn, Christian
• Barnow, Sven
• Spitzer, Carsten
• John, Ulrich
• Freyberger, Harald J
• Schminke, Ulf
• Felix, Stephan
• Völzke, Henry

Titel

Alexithymia, hypertension, and subclinical atherosclerosis in the general population

Ist Teil von

• Journal of psychosomatic research, 2010-02, Vol.68 (2), p.139-147

Ort / Verlag

New York, NY: Elsevier Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2010

Quelle

Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts (ASSIA)

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Abstract Objectives As a personality trait, alexithymia is assumed to present a longstanding risk factor for emotional dysregulation that also affects the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, we hypothesize that alexithymia is associated with hypertension and carotid atherosclerosis in the general population. Methods A total of 1168 subjects (age <65 years) from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) were eligible for complete case analyses. Alexithymia was assessed with the 20-item Toronto-Alexithymia-Scale (TAS-20). An extensive interview and physical examination were performed. Extracranial carotid arteries were examined bilaterally with B-mode ultrasonography. Regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic factors and classical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and mental distress. Results In the adjusted logistic regression models, alexithymia was significantly associated with hypertension (OR=1.60; 95% CI=1.14–2.25) and with atherosclerotic plaques (OR=1.70; 95% CI=1.14–2.54). Hypertension changed the effect of alexithymia on atherosclerosis only marginally (OR=1.76 to 1.70). Conclusion Alexithymia may represent a relevant and independent risk factor for hypertension and carotid atherosclerosis at the population level. None of the putative confounders mediated a relevant proportion of the risk. Prospective studies are needed to confirm this association.