EpistemisAlexithymia
Specialty: Psychiatry.
Why it occurs
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD, highly prevalent comorbidity)
- Chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (as a defense mechanism to avoid emotional pain)
- Somatic symptom disorder (not being able to identify or name the affect, it is expressed physically)
- Severe major depression (extreme dullness)
- Injury or dysfunction of the corpus callosum or the right hemisphere
Initial workup
20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20); cognitive and empathy/Theory of Mind assessment; rule out ASD in adults through specific screening (AQ).
red flags
Frequent association with severe somatizations that cause multiple unnecessary hospital admissions or delay in the diagnosis of serious psychiatric pathologies due to the patient's inability to explain their psychological suffering.
Standard management
- There are no psychotropic drugs indicated to treat alexithymia directly. Comorbid symptoms are treated: Duloxetine — useful if there are comorbid painful or anxious symptoms
- SSRIs such as Escitalopram (to treat underlying depression or PTSD that may be aggravating the emotional block).
Educational guidance for study. It is NOT a prescription recommendation. The actual choice depends on the cause, the patient, and current guidelines.
- Area
- Psychiatry
- Listed causes
- 5
- Treatment options
- 2