Alexithymia Levels and Facial Emotion Recognition Skills in Psoriasis Patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine alexithymia levels and abilities to recognize facial emotions among psoriasis patients and compare with healthy controls. Sixty psoriasis patients diagnosed in dermatology clinics, and 65 age, sex and educationally matched healthy controls were assessed for this randomized controlled trial. Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) was applied to patients in dermatology clinics, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-1 Disorders, 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Facial Emotion Recognition Test (FERT) were applied to patients and controls in psychiatry clinics. Patients’ mean TAS-20 total scores were higher, while their ability to recognize negative facial emotions were lower than the control group Patients might have underestimated especially negative emotions over time, for a possible defense mechanism against depression and anxiety. Alexithymia levels were significantly related with psoriasis disease severity. Thus, alexithymia might be a predictor for severity of psoriasis.

Keywords

• psoriasis
• alexithymia
• facial emotion recognition
• depression
• anxiety