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Evaluation of alexithymia and depression in severe obese patients not affected by eating disorders

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the different aspects of the construct of alexithymia in a group of severe obese patients not affected by eating disorders. Moreover, we tested if in the same patients there was a relationship between alexithymic traits and depressive symptoms. METHOD: Forty-nine severe obese patients were evaluated through the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The results were compared with those of a normal weight control group. RESULTS: Obese patients were less able than control subjects in recognizing and labeling their own emotions. This deficit was positively associated with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that severe obese patients have more difficulties in recognizing their emotions and have more depressive symptoms than control subjects have.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eating Disorders and Obesity Outpatient Unit, ULSS 13, Mirano-Dolo, Venezia, Italy

    A. Da Ros & N. Gentile

  2. „Studi cognitivi”, Post-graduate Cognitive Psychotherapy School research group, Milano, Italy

    A. Da Ros, P. Vinai & S. Cardetti

  3. Toxicological Clinical Unit, General Hospital-University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    A. Da Ros & G. Forza

  4. GNOSIS no profit research group, Cuneo, Italy

    A. Da Ros, P. Vinai & S. Cardetti

Authors
  1. A. Da Ros
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  2. P. Vinai
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  3. N. Gentile
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  4. G. Forza
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  5. S. Cardetti
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Correspondence to P. Vinai.

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Da Ros, A., Vinai, P., Gentile, N. et al. Evaluation of alexithymia and depression in severe obese patients not affected by eating disorders. Eat Weight Disord 16, 24–29 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327517

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327517

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