Alexithymia in patients with various oral disorders

Abstract

This study examined alexithymia using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Alexithymia Scale (MMPI-AS) in patients with various oral disorders.
The subjects consisted of 581 patients (134 males: mean age 42.7±19.5, 447 females: mean age 46.5±18.9), including 321 with physical disorders [temporomandibular disorders (TMD), recurrent aphtha (RA) and etc.], 19 with vague complaint-complicated physical disorders, 177 with a single vague complaint (oral paresthesias, glossodynias etc.) and 64 with vague multiple complaints.
The results were as follows:(1) patients with vague oral complaints scored significantly higher than patients with physical disorders.(2) Patients with glossodynia scored significantly higher than patients with oral paresthsia, TMD, or RA.(3) Female patients scored significantly higher than male patients.(4) Elderly patients scored significantly higher than younger or middle-aged patients, while the difference between the latter two groups was not significant.
It is considered that dentists should also understand alexithymia as patients with some oral disorders are alexithymic.