[Alexitimia y síndrome de Asperger – translated from Spanish].
Isabel Paula-Pérez, Juan Martos-Pérez, María Llorente-Comí.
[Rev Neurol 2010, 50 (Suppl. 3): S85-S90]
[PMID: 20200852 - Presentation - Publication Date: 03/03/2010]
Apparatus and procedure: We used the following scales and questionnaires (with the sample we also used other instruments not included in current study): Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) The TAS was developed by Bagby et al [6] has two validations: the Moral de la Rubia and Retana [7] and Martinez-Sanchez [8]. Alexithymia scale for observers (OAS) has been used in various publications, for example, Haviland et al [10] and was translated directly from its original source. Online Alexithymia Questionnaire (OAQ-G2) The OAQ-G2 was developed in 2005 by Thompson [9] in response to perceived limitations in other existing alexithymia questionnaires, and was translated by A JJ Ordinas and R. Nogués.
Results: With the TAS-20, 5 subjects (55%) obtained a score indicating the presence of alexithymia, 1 subject (11%) obtained a score that suggests possible alexithymia, and in 3 cases (34%) the score indicates absence of alexithymia. That is, with this instrument, two thirds of subjects had alexithymia. With the OAQ-G2, 3 subjects (34%) obtained a score indicating a clear presence of alexithymia, 4 patients (44%) obtained a score that suggests possible alexithymia, and in 2 subjects (22%) the score indicates absence of alexithymia. With this instrument and adding the first two groups of people, three-quarters of the subjects had or may have alexithymia.
Discussion: The research reveals an overlap between alexithymia and AS. The data obtained in the sample agree with those obtained by Hill et al [12], who found that 85% of people with AS showed a moderate or severe alexithymia. The global analysis of data prompts a differentiation of results according to whether the source of information is the subject itself with AS (TAS-20 and OAQ-G2) or if the source is a relative who lives with the person with AS (OAS). In the first case, the data are significant but not conclusive: two thirds of patients with AS have or may alexithymia, according to the TAS-20 and three quarters have or may alexithymia, according to the OAQ-G2. However, when it comes to assessing the levels of alexithymia by the family, the data are crucial, doubling the score in the neurotypical population.
The study results are very significant when it comes to assessing the levels of alexithymia in patients with AS by people living with them, their families. These are those who experience daily the impact it has on their interpersonal relationships of family: little warmth in the relationship, difficulty feeling compassion, little tenderness, stiffness in everyday life, confusion to stress, frustration in dealing with uncertainty, little sense of humor, etc. The prospective research invites the question of how to explain the high comorbidity between alexithymia and AS. Is alexithymia a neuroanatomical structural consequence or is the result of a neurobiological impairment, or is it rather an idiosyncratic personality trait of individuals with AS? If so, would alexithymia therefore be a useful diagnostic criterion for the AS? Not surprisingly, the diagnostic criteria covers various aspects of alexithymia: 'lack of social and emotional reciprocity' (DSM-IV-TR) [5], '); ‘impaired or deviant response to other people’s emotions' (ICD -10) [16], 'difficulty expressing themselves, especially when talking about emotions' (definition of the National Autistic Society) [17], emotionally inappropriate behaviour… impairment of comprehension (Gillberg diagnostic criteria) [18] ... As it says Attwood [19], 'we now have a psychological term, alexithymia to describe other characteristics associated with AS, ie someone who has an impaired ability to identify and describe emotional states. Clinical experience and research have confirmed that alexithymia can be recognized in the skills and profile of people with AS. "
