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Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in alcoholics and the relationship with alexithymia.

van Rossum LG, Laheij RJ, de Doelder MS, de Jong CA, Jansen JB

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (MDL 547), University Medical Centre Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9100, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. L.vanRossum@mdl.umcn.nl

Alcohol abuse coincides with a wide variety of clinical, sociological and psychological features and symptoms. Gastrointestinal symptoms are also very common in alcoholics, but the reason is unclear. We aimed to determine the prevalence of alexithymia in alcoholics and furthermore if gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with alexithymia. Out of the 84 alcoholics who completed the alexithymia questionnaire (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS20) and the standard gastrointestinal symptoms questionnaire, 92% reported gastrointestinal symptoms and 54% were alexithymic. Alcoholics above age 43 had more difficulty describing feelings (odds ratio=4.1, confidence interval=1.5-11.4). Almost all measured gastrointestinal symptoms in alcoholics were associated with scores on an alexithymia questionnaire.

Published 1 December 2004 in Psychiatry Res, 129(1): 107-12.
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