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Is Alexithymia Related to Colon Cancer? A Survey of Patients Undergoing a Screening Colonoscopy Examination

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Abstract

The current study examined whether alexithymia is involved in colon cancer as has been found in breast and uterine cancer research. The TAS-20 was administered before examination to patients who underwent colon cancer screening. Histological data were obtained from the biopsies. Gender, age, education, smoking and drinking habits, and personal and family histories of neoplastic colonic disease were controlled for in the analysis. Both adenoma and adenocarcinoma patients had higher TAS-20 scores than negative cases, and both high and intermediate levels of alexithymia were implicated. Difficulty identifying feelings and externally oriented thinking were the most prominent facets related to the disease process.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Domenichina Arnaldi, Rosaria Pantano, Florencia Pallanza and Francesca Bertini for their collaboration in collecting the questionnaires and references. The article is based on the corresponding author’s Master Thesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

    M. Lauriola & A. Panno

  2. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

    M. Tomai

  3. General Surgery Operative Unit 1, “Complesso Integrato Columbus”, Rome, Italy

    V. Ricciardi & A. E. Potenza

Authors
  1. M. Lauriola
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  2. A. Panno
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  3. M. Tomai
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  4. V. Ricciardi
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  5. A. E. Potenza
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Correspondence to A. Panno.

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Lauriola, M., Panno, A., Tomai, M. et al. Is Alexithymia Related to Colon Cancer? A Survey of Patients Undergoing a Screening Colonoscopy Examination. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 18, 410–415 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-011-9267-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-011-9267-y

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