Alexithymia in Cancer Patients: Review of the Literature

A.M.M. De Vries, V. Forni, R. Voellinger, F. Stiefel
Objective: To summarize the literature on alexithymia in cancer patients. Methods:
The empirical literature published between 1972 and January 2010 was
searched through MEDLINE, PSYINFO, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. Key
words were: alexithymia, affective symptoms, cancer, neoplasms. Results:
The search identified 16 relevant studies which are methodologically
problematic and show conflicting results. However, several interesting
hypotheses emerge such as a possible link between alexithymia and the
immune system, between alexithymia and quality of life, or between
alexithymia, anxiety and depression. The question to what degree
alexithymia in cancer patients is a trait or a state cannot be answered
by these studies. Conclusions: A lack of methodologically sound
studies and the large variations of results among studies suggest that
the role of alexithymia in patients with cancer deserves more systematic
research. Consequently, studies are needed which investigate the nature
(state or trait) of alexithymia, its impact on cancer development and
progression, as well as its influence on compliance and on the
underestimation of psychological distress and psychiatric outcome in
cancer patients.

Alexithymia in Cancer Patients: Review of the Literature

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