Alexitimia e sintomas psicopatológicos em pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica / Alexithymia and psychopathological symptoms in patients suffering from chronic renal failure

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2005

RESUMO

The chronic renal failure is a disease that evolves slowly, gradually and irreversibly causing physical and emotional damage. Studies on the emotional aspects of patients undergoing hemodialysis procedures emphasize that they are a special group among chronic disease patients, because the procedure itself and the individuals dependence on the equipment involved assume great importance on the individuals life. These stressful aspects can, therefore, cause special effects on the emotions and behavior of these patients, overloading the depressive symptoms caused by uremia itself. Among the pathologies and conditions related to emotions, alexithymia stands out. The term been applied to an individuals difficulty to express emotions and affection. Alexithymia and its psychopathological symptoms are considered to have influence on diagnosis, prognosis, and the way a patient can cope with the different forms of treating renal failure. That being so, the evaluation and identification of these aspects can provide a better understanding of them in order to identify and offer to these patients more adequate psychological treatment and a program of prevention and mental health involving patients and the health team. For this study the sample include 48 patients who have been receiving hemodialysis at the hospital of the University School of Medicine in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The sample was stratified according to the type of renal disease presented. The tools used were Identification Form, The Toronto Alexithyimia Scale (TAS) and the Symptoms Evaluation Scale (EAS-40). The sample was distributed like the following: men (60,4%); age between 40 and 59 years of age (58,3%); basic education (50%); retired or on sick leave (47,9%). High blood pressure (41,6%); diabetes mellitus (31,3%); chronic glomerule nephritis (27,1%). Regarding alexithymia 52% of the patients presented scores equal or superior to 74, and 4,2% presented scores equal or inferior to 62. 43,8% of the subjects are on the range between 63 and 73 points. The average score of the sample was 74 and DP 7,52. The results show that patients undergoing hemodialysis present high scores on TAS, regardless of sex, level of education, marital status, occupation, age or diagnosis, and the differences between these variables were not significant. Concerning the psychopathological symptoms, the average score was 0,63 and DP 0,37 , and there were no significant differences between the social and demographic variables. Regarding the association between alexithymia and psychopathological symptoms the results show significant relation between the total scores of TAS and EAS-40; and also between the total score of TAS and Factors 1, 2 and 3 of EAS-40, which fulfill the theoretical expectations. Although further research is needs to identify how these aspects believe in other groups, our finding confirm that alexithymia is related to psychopathological symptoms.

ASSUNTO(S)

sintomas psicopatológicos alexithymia, alexitimia hemodiálise hemodialysis psicologia psychopathological symptoms

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