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Relationship Between Alexithymia and Social Anxiety in Female Outpatients with Dermatological Disorder Presenting for Psychiatric Consultation

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between alexithymia and social anxiety symptoms in female outpatients with dermatological disorder. Fifty consecutive patients sent to a psychiatry outpatient clinic for consultation from a dermatology outpatient clinic were included in the study. Social anxiety symptoms showed significant correlations with depression, trait anxiety, alexithymia and global psychiatric symptom severity. A multivariate analysis of covariance demonstrated that subscales of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) were related to alexithymia and trait anxiety. The “difficulty in describing feelings” (DDF) dimension of alexithymia and trait anxiety appear to be important factors in this relationship between social anxiety and alexithymia. Results of this study suggest that patients with dermatological disorder may benefit from both treatment of social anxiety symptoms and learning how to regulate their affects and emotional expression.

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Dr. Melda Koyuncu (MK), from the Outpatient Dermatology Department at Baltalimani State Hospital for Muskuloskeletal Disorders, not only for her helpful support during the present study but also for the concern she shows for her patients in general.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatry Department, Baltalimani State Hospital for Muskuloskeletal Disorders, Istanbul, Turkey

    Bilge Evren

  2. Psychiatry Department, Bakirkoy State Hospital for Mental Health and Neurological Disorders, Istanbul, Turkey

    Cuneyt Evren

  3. Icadiye Cad. Mentes Sok., Selcuk Apt. 1/17 Kuzguncuk, Uskudar, Istanbul, 34674, Turkey

    Cuneyt Evren

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  1. Bilge Evren
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  2. Cuneyt Evren
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Correspondence to Cuneyt Evren.

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Evren, B., Evren, C. Relationship Between Alexithymia and Social Anxiety in Female Outpatients with Dermatological Disorder Presenting for Psychiatric Consultation. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 14, 258–265 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-007-9072-9

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