Citation

De Berardis D, Campanella D, Serroni N, Moschetta FS, Di Emidio F, Conti C, Carano A, Acciavatti T, Di Iorio G, Martinotti G, Siracusano A, di Giannantonio M. Compr. Psychiatry 2013; 54(5): 517-522.

Affiliation

Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, Chair of Psychiatry, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti, Italy; NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "G. Mazzini" Teramo, Italy. Electronic address: dodebera@aliceposta.it.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.12.013

PMID

23332553

Abstract

To elucidate the relationships between alexithymia, suicide ideation and serum lipid levels in drug-naïve adult outpatients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of Panic Disorder (PD), 72 patients were evaluated. Measures were the Panic Attack and Anticipatory Anxiety Scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Scale of Suicide Ideation (SSI) and the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Alexithymic patients showed higher scores on all rating scales and altered serum lipid levels than non-alexithymics. In the hierarchical regression model, the presence of lower HDL-C and higher VLDL-C levels and Difficulty in Identifying Feelings dimension of TAS-20 were associated with higher suicide ideation. In conclusion, alexithymic individuals with PD may show a cholesterol dysregulation that may be linked to suicide ideation. The authors discuss study limitations and future research needs.

Language: en