Comparing Alexithymia between patients (cardiac, renal) and healthy subjects (nurses, students)

Alexithymia is a personality construct that is known as a risk factor for a range of psychiatric, medical and somatoform disorders. This study was done with aim of Comparing Alexithymia between patients (cardiac, renal) and healthy subjects (nurses, students). This comparative cross-sectional study was done in a sample of 878 people from cardiovascular patients, kidney patients, nurses and college students in Kermanshah, Iran. The study tool was Torento-20 questionnaire. Data analyzed by SPSS-21 software using multivariate ANOVA and scheffe tests. 428 people (47.8%) of all respondents were women and mean age of total sample was 39.99±17.23. data analysis showed that there was a significant difference between 4 groups in all three subscales of alexithymia (p<0.001; F=111.08). the mean score of alexithymia in nurses was more than students and in cardiovascular patients was more than nurses and students. There was no significant difference between cardiovascular and kidney patients (p > 0.05). The results of this study indicate high levels of alexithymia in patient group comparing healthy people. In particular, high levels of alexithymia in cardiovascular patients, points out the importance of this variable in this group of patients.