Alexithymia and asthma: a systematic review
Growing evidence from scientific research elucidates the important role of alexithymia in chronic immune diseases. This Review aims to explore the presence of alexithymia in patients affected by asthma and clarify its associations with other involved psychological and physical factors. In January 20...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1221648/full |
| _version_ | 1797752168943452160 |
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| author | Orlando Silvestro Luisa Ricciardi Antonino Catalano Carmelo Mario Vicario Francesco Tomaiuolo Giovanni Pioggia Giovanni Squadrito Peter Schwarz Sebastiano Gangemi Gabriella Martino |
| author_facet | Orlando Silvestro Luisa Ricciardi Antonino Catalano Carmelo Mario Vicario Francesco Tomaiuolo Giovanni Pioggia Giovanni Squadrito Peter Schwarz Sebastiano Gangemi Gabriella Martino |
| author_sort | Orlando Silvestro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Growing evidence from scientific research elucidates the important role of alexithymia in chronic immune diseases. This Review aims to explore the presence of alexithymia in patients affected by asthma and clarify its associations with other involved psychological and physical factors. In January 2023, according to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search using PubMed and Scopus was conducted. Twenty-six studies were eligible based on inclusion criteria. Alexithymia was significantly present in asthma patients, with most studies reporting a higher prevalence (from 9 to 62.8%) than in control groups (approximately 10%). The coexistence of asthma and alexithymia was associated with a worse quality of life, psychiatric comorbidity, poor symptom control, and difficulty in recognizing exacerbations of the disease. These results suggest that alexithymia can negatively impact the management of asthma. For this reason, we recommend an accuracy assessment in clinical settings and the implementation of psychological interventions to promote the emotional and physical wellbeing of asthmatic patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:00:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4d301ef9f7f4a029c0e9cc1e5eeee23 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:00:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4d301ef9f7f4a029c0e9cc1e5eeee232023-08-07T18:12:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-08-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.12216481221648Alexithymia and asthma: a systematic reviewOrlando Silvestro0Luisa Ricciardi1Antonino Catalano2Carmelo Mario Vicario3Francesco Tomaiuolo4Giovanni Pioggia5Giovanni Squadrito6Peter Schwarz7Sebastiano Gangemi8Gabriella Martino9Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Cognitive Sciences, Psychology, Education and Cultural Studies, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, ItalyInstitute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Messina, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Endocrinology, Research Centre for Ageing and Osteoporosis, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup Hospital, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, ItalyGrowing evidence from scientific research elucidates the important role of alexithymia in chronic immune diseases. This Review aims to explore the presence of alexithymia in patients affected by asthma and clarify its associations with other involved psychological and physical factors. In January 2023, according to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search using PubMed and Scopus was conducted. Twenty-six studies were eligible based on inclusion criteria. Alexithymia was significantly present in asthma patients, with most studies reporting a higher prevalence (from 9 to 62.8%) than in control groups (approximately 10%). The coexistence of asthma and alexithymia was associated with a worse quality of life, psychiatric comorbidity, poor symptom control, and difficulty in recognizing exacerbations of the disease. These results suggest that alexithymia can negatively impact the management of asthma. For this reason, we recommend an accuracy assessment in clinical settings and the implementation of psychological interventions to promote the emotional and physical wellbeing of asthmatic patients.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1221648/fullalexithymiaasthmapsychosomatic disorderspsychological distresschronic diseaseclinical psychology |
| spellingShingle | Orlando Silvestro Luisa Ricciardi Antonino Catalano Carmelo Mario Vicario Francesco Tomaiuolo Giovanni Pioggia Giovanni Squadrito Peter Schwarz Sebastiano Gangemi Gabriella Martino Alexithymia and asthma: a systematic review Frontiers in Psychology alexithymia asthma psychosomatic disorders psychological distress chronic disease clinical psychology |
| title | Alexithymia and asthma: a systematic review |
| title_full | Alexithymia and asthma: a systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Alexithymia and asthma: a systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alexithymia and asthma: a systematic review |
| title_short | Alexithymia and asthma: a systematic review |
| title_sort | alexithymia and asthma a systematic review |
| topic | alexithymia asthma psychosomatic disorders psychological distress chronic disease clinical psychology |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1221648/full |
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