Alexithymia in Patients with Psoriasis: A Cross-Sectional Study from Ecuador

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and Clinical Information of Surveyed Population (n=99)

Characteristics	Value n (%)
Gender
Male	57 (57.6)
Female	42 (42.4)
Educational level
No education	3 (3.0)
Primary school	9 (9.1)
Secondary school	44 (44.4)
University	43 (43.4)
Marital status
Single	28 (28.3)
Married	51 (51.5)
Divorced	7 (7.1)
Widow	2 (2.0)
Consensual union	11 (11.1)
TAS-20
Non-alexithymia	44 (44.4)
Possible alexithymia	22 (22.2)
Alexithymia	33 (33.3)
Disease severity
Mild	69 (69.7)
Moderate-Severe	30 (30.3)
MGLS
Some level of non-adherence	72 (72.7)
Perfect adherence	27 (27.3)

Notes: For the TAS-20, the cutoff scoring used was equal or less than 51, non-alexithymia; between 52 and 60, possible alexithymia; and equal or greater than 61, alexithymia. A PASI score ≥10 was considered as moderate-severe psoriasis. For the MGLS, a score of 0 points denoted perfect adherence and 1+ indicated some level of non-adherence.

Abbreviations: TAS-20, Toronto Alexithymia Scale; MGLS, Morisky Green Levine Medication Adherence Scale.

Table 2 Mean TAS-20, PASI, and MGLS Scores of Surveyed Population

Characteristics	Mean
Age	48.3
Years with disease	7.4
TAS-20	53.8
Factor 1	19.7
Factor 2	13.21
Factor 2	20.8
PASI	10.2
MGLS	1.5

Notes: For the TAS-20, the cutoff scoring used was equal or less than 51, non-alexithymia; between 52 and 60, possible alexithymia; and equal or greater than 61, alexithymia. A PASI score ≥10 was considered as moderate-severe psoriasis. For the MGLS, a score of 0 points denoted perfect adherence and 1+ indicated some level of non-adherence.

Abbreviations: TAS-20, Toronto Alexithymia Scale; Factor 1, difficulty identifying feelings; Factor 2, difficulty describing feelings; Factor 3, externally oriented thinking; PASI, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index Asthma; MGLS, Morisky Green Levine Medication Adherence Scale.

Table 3 Mean TAS-20 and Factor Scores According to Category of Alexithymia

Category	Mean
Non-alexithymia TAS-20	40.9
Factor 1	13.1
Factor 2	9.4
Factor 3	18.3
Possible alexithymia TAS-20	55.8
Factor 1	20.7
Factor 2	13.2
Factor 3	21.8
Alexithymia TAS-20	69.7
Factor 1	27.9
Factor 2	18.2
Factor 3	23.5

Notes: For the TAS-20, the cutoff scoring used was: equal or less than 51, non-alexithymia; between 52 and 60, possible alexithymia; and equal or greater than 61, alexithymia.

Abbreviations: TAS-20, Toronto Alexithymia Scale; Factor 1, difficulty identifying feelings; Factor 2, difficulty describing feelings; Factor 3, externally oriented thinking.

Figure 1 Regression coefficient plot with confidence intervals of standard multiple regression. Regression coefficients’ names are placed in the Y-axis and their corresponding values express how they increase/decrease the TAS-20 score. Reference category for gender was “female”; reference category for education level was “no education”; reference category for level of adherence was “some level of non-adherence”.