Determinants and impact of alexithymia on quality of life in Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Alexithymia is a neuropsychiatric symptom conceptualized as difficulty identifying and describing feelings. Although associated with other non-motor symptoms, mainly neuropsychiatric, alexithymia may present as an isolated symptom in persons with Parkinson's Disease (PwP). The objective of the study is to identify determinants of alexithymia and its association with quality of life (QoL) in Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Subjects with Parkinson's disease were recruited. The following instruments were applied: Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20) and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8). Matched healthy controls were screened using TAS-20. Clinical and demographical variables were compared between alexithymic and non-alexithymic. Regression models were used to find determinants of alexithymia. Impact of alexithymia on QoL was estimated with a linear regression model. RESULTS: 98 patients were included. 56.1% PwP and 28.8% controls were alexithymic (p<0.001). Education level (OR 0.86) and NMSS urinary score (OR 1.09) determined alexithymia as well as TAS-20 score. Alexithymia was an independent determinant of QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymia is a prevalent independent non-motor symptom in PwP with impact on QoL. Low education level and urinary symptoms are important determinants of alexithymia.

Determinants and impact of alexithymia on quality of life in Parkinson’s disease / Determinantes e impacto de la alexitimia en la calidad de vida en la enfermedad de Parkinson

Introduction: Alexithymia is a neuropsychiatric symptom conceptualized as difficulty iden-tifying and describing feelings. Although associated with other non-motor symptoms, mainlyneuropsychiatric, alexithymia may present as an isolated symptom in persons with Parkinson’sDisease (PwP). The objective of the study is to identify determinants of alexithymia and itsassociation with quality of life (QoL) in Parkinson’s disease. Methods: Subjects with Parkinson’s disease were recruited. The following instruments wereapplied: Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS),Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Toronto alexithymiascale (TAS-20) and Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8). Matched healthy controls werescreened using TAS-20. Clinical and demographical variables were compared between alex-ithymic and non-alexithymic. Regression models were used to find determinants of alexithymia.Impact of alexithymia on QoL was estimated with a linear regression model.Results: 98 patients were included. 56.1% PwP and 28.8% controls were alexithymic (p < 0.001).Education level (OR 0.86) and NMSS urinary score (OR 1.09) determined alexithymia as well asTAS-20 score. Alexithymia was an independent determinant of QoL. Conclusions: Alexithymia is a prevalent independent non-motor symptom in PwP with impacton QoL. Low education level and urinary symptoms are important determinants of alexithymia.(AU)

Introducción: La alexitimia es un rasgo neuropsiquiátrico conceptualizado como la dificul-tad para identificar y describir sentimientos. Aunque está asociado con otros síntomas nomotores, principalmente neuropsiquiátricos, sigue siendo una característica independiente delas personas con enfermedad de Parkinson (PcP). El objetivo del estudio es identificar losdeterminantes de la alexitimia y su asociación con la calidad de vida en la enfermedad deParkinson. Métodos: Se reclutaron sujetos con enfermedad de Parkinson. Se aplicaron los siguientesinstrumentos: escala unificada de la enfermedad de Parkinson de la Sociedad de Trastornosdel Movimiento (MDS-UPDRS), escala de síntomas no motores (NMSS), evaluación cognitiva deMontreal (MoCA), escala de alexitimia de Toronto (TAS-20) y cuestionario de la enfermedadde Parkinson (PDQ-8). Se incluyeron controles sanos pareados, los cuales se evaluaron usandola TAS-20. Las variables clínicas y demográficas se compararon entre pacientes alexitímicos yno alexitímicos. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión para estimar los predictores de alexitimia.El impacto de este rasgo neuropsiquiátrico en la calidad de vida se estimó con un modelo deregresión lineal. Resultados: Se incluyeron 98 pacientes. El 56,1% de PcP y el 28,8% de los controles fueronalexitímicos (p < 0,001). El nivel educativo (OR 0,86) y la puntuación urinaria del NMSS (OR1,09) determinaron la alexitimia, así como la puntuación del TAS-20. La alexitimia fue undeterminante independiente de calidad de vida. Conclusiones: La alexitimia es un síntoma independiente no motor prevalente con impactoen la calidad de vida. El bajo nivel educativo y los síntomas urinarios son determinantesimportantes de esta condición. (AU)

Determinants and impact of alexithymia on quality of life in Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Alexithymia is a neuropsychiatric symptom conceptualized as difficulty identifying and describing feelings. Although associated with other non-motor symptoms, mainly neuropsychiatric, alexithymia may present as an isolated symptom in persons with Parkinson's Disease (PwP). The objective of the study is to identify determinants of alexithymia and its association with quality of life (QoL) in Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Subjects with Parkinson's disease were recruited. The following instruments were applied: Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20) and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8). Matched healthy controls were screened using TAS-20. Clinical and demographical variables were compared between alexithymic and non-alexithymic. Regression models were used to find determinants of alexithymia. Impact of alexithymia on QoL was estimated with a linear regression model. RESULTS: 98 patients were included. 56.1% PwP and 28.8% controls were alexithymic (p<0.001). Education level (OR 0.86) and NMSS urinary score (OR 1.09) determined alexithymia as well as TAS-20 score. Alexithymia was an independent determinant of QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymia is a prevalent independent non-motor symptom in PwP with impact on QoL. Low education level and urinary symptoms are important determinants of alexithymia.