Levels Of Alexithymia Research Articles

The Relationship Between Alexithymia and Risk for Postpartum Depression

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is classified as a stressful life experience. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of alexithymia and risk for postpartum depression in women during the COVID-19 pandemic and state-of-emergency lockdown in Serbia. This cross-sectional study included 108 adult (age ≥18 years) postpartum women with children age 12 months or younger. We used the following questionnaires: Edinburgh Post-natal Depression Scale (EPDS), Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS), Hamilton scale for the assessment of anxiety (HAM-A) and depression (HAM-D), and an additional questionnaire constructed for this study. We found that 14.8% of participants had a score of 10 or higher on EPDS, 23.15% had alexithymia, and 31.32% had borderline alexithymia. There was a significant positive correlation of alexithymia with risk for postpartum depression, high-intensity anxiety, and depression in postpartum women with a score of 10 or higher on HAM-D and 18 or higher on HAM-A. Higher rates on TAS were noticed in mothers who were older, single, and dissatisfied with emotional status, with lower educational level, unemployment, and lack of family support. Multiple linear regression analysis including all factors that correlate with higher TAS scores showed that higher scores on HAM-D (beta = 0.75, P < .01) and higher scores on EPDS (beta = 0.69; P < .01) were independent predictors of higher EPDS scores (adjusted R 2 = 0.52, P < .01 for overall model). Alexithymia could develop in response to pandemics, and pandemics and the measures taken to combat a pandemic could be considered as risk factors for postpartum depression. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2021;51(9):431–436.]

Surviving to Acute Myocardial Infarction: The Role of Psychological Factors and Alexithymia in Delayed Time to Searching Care: A Systematic Review.

The time from symptom onset to reperfusion is a critical determinant of myocardial salvage and clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This time period could be delayed if people do not seek help promptly and/or if the health system is not efficient in responding quickly and attending to these individuals. The aim of this study was to identify psychological factors associated with pre-hospital delay (PHD) or patients’ decisional delay (PDD) in people with an ongoing AMI. A search in PubMed/Medline from 1990 to 2021 with the keywords “pre-hospital delay” OR “prehospital delay” OR “patient delay” OR “decisional delay” OR “care seeking behavior” AND “psychological factors” OR “alexithymia” AND “myocardial infarction” was performed. Thirty-six studies were included, involving 10.389 patients. Wrong appraisal, interpretation and causal beliefs about symptoms, denial of the severity of the symptoms and high levels of alexithymia were found related to longer PHD or PDD. Alexithymia may be an overarching construct that explains the disparate findings of the studies exploring the role of psychological factors in PHD or PDD. Further studies are needed in order to analyse the role of alexithymia in patients with risk factors for AMI to prevent delay.

Relationship between interoceptive sensibility and somatoform disorders in adults with autism spectrum traits. The mediating role of alexithymia and emotional dysregulation.

The purpose of the study is to analyses the relationship between interoceptive sensibility and somatoform disorders among persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It has been assumed that the interoceptive sensibility is accompanied by a high level of alexithymia and emotion dysregulation in somatoform disorders. Persons under the care of the foundation helping people with ASD were asked to participate in the study. In total, 205 people took part in the research. The participants aged from 18 to 63 (M = 34.91; SD = 8.44). The ASD group comprised 79 persons (38.5% of subjects). The control group comprised 126 individuals (61.5% of subjects). Participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring autism (AQ), interoceptive sensibility (BPQ), alexithymia (TAS20), emotional dysregulation (DERS), and somatoform disorder (SDQ). The analyses showed a moderation effect of the group, which indicates the existence of a relationship between interoceptive sensibility and somatoform disorders to the greater extent in the clinical group than in the control group. In addition, the serial multiple mediation model analysis allowed to verify the mediating effect of emotion dysregulation and alexithymia on the abovementioned relationship. The indirect effect, which assumed the mediating role of alexithymia turned out to be significant, contrary to the indirect effect where emotion dysregulation was a mediator in a situation where both variables were applied simultaneously. Interoceptive sensibility correlated with level of alexithymia, in particular, difficulties in identifying and verbalizing emotions and emotion dysregulation in the lack of emotional awareness and lack of emotional clarity and is associated with somatoform disorders in the investigated group regardless of participants' belonging to the ASD or control group.

Alexithymia and Facial Mimicry in Response to Infant and Adult Affect-Expressive Faces.

Facial mimicry is the automatic tendency to imitate facial expressions of emotions. Alexithymia is associated with a reduced facial mimicry ability to affect expressions of adults. There is evidence that the baby schema may influence this process. In this study it was tested experimentally whether facial mimicry of the alexithymic group (AG) is different from the control group (CG) in response to dynamic facial affect expressions of children and adults. A multi-method approach (20-point Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia) was used for assessing levels of alexithymia. From 3503 initial data sets, two groups of 38 high and low alexithymic individuals without relevant mental or physical diseases were matched regarding age, gender, and education. Facial mimicry was induced by presentation of naturalistic affect-expressive video sequences (fear, sadness, disgust, anger, and joy) taken from validated sets of faces from adults (Averaged Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces) and children (Picture-Set of Young Children’s Affective Facial Expressions). The videos started with a neutral face and reached maximum affect expression within 2 s. The responses of the groups were measured by facial electromyographic activity (fEMG) of corrugator supercilii and zygomaticus major muscles. Differences in fEMG response (4000 ms) were tested in a variance analytical model. There was one significant main effect for the factor emotion and four interaction effects for the factors group × age, muscle × age, muscle × emotion, and for the triple interaction muscle × age × emotion. The participants of AG showed a decreased fEMG activity in response to the presented faces of adults compared to the CG but not for the faces of children. The affect-expressive faces of children induced enhanced zygomatic and reduced corrugator muscle activity in both groups. Despite existing deficits in the facial mimicry of alexithymic persons, affect-expressive faces of children seem to trigger a stronger positive emotional involvement even in the AG.

The relationship between blood pressure regulation and alexithymia variability in newly diagnosed essential hypertension patients

Background/Aim: Blood pressure disorder can accompany mood and various psychosomatic disorders. One of the signs of emotional disorganization is alexithymia, which is defined as the impaired ability to experience and express emotions. The relationship of hypertension (HT) with alexithymia is well known, but few studies show the change in alexithymia status after blood pressure regulation. Our study aimed to evaluate the level of alexithymia caused by optimal medical treatment in newly diagnosed essential HT patients. Methods: Fifty-six essential HT patients (33 males, 23 females) diagnosed with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were included in this cross-sectional study. All participants filled the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) during diagnosis and when blood pressure was regulated with treatment. Results: The mean age of the study group was 50.7 (9.9) years. There were twenty-three (41.1%) females. As expected, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were significantly lower after treatment (144.41 (9.11) / 89.42 (9.31) mmHg vs. 122.75 (7.27) /74.96 (3.18) mmHg, P<0.001 for both). While TAS-DIF (difficulty identifying feelings) and TAS-EOT (externally oriented thinking) did not significantly change after treatment, a significant decrease was observed in TAS-DDF (difficulty describing feelings) (14.29 (3.51) vs 12.57 (3.06), P<0.01). Total TAS score, TAS-20, was also significantly decreased after treatment (55.67 (8.82) vs 52.35 (7.71), P=0.036). Conclusion: Our findings show that TAS-DDF, one of the subscales of alexithymia, can be improved by regulating blood pressure. We think that psychiatric and emotional states should be evaluated in the follow-up of HT. It is also essential to increase the awareness of patients about coping with stress and stress management.

Psychological well-being: the role of self-differentiation, Alexithymia and ego-strength

Introduction: Psychological well-being as a component of positive psychology is associated with a variety of personal and family factors in psychology such as self-differentiation, Alexithymia and ego strength. Aim: This study was aimed to investigate on prediction of psychological well-being based on self-differentiation, Alexithymia and ego strength in students in Islamic Azad University in Qom city. Method: Its method was descriptive and type of correlation. The statistical community included all students in Islamic Azad University in Qom city in academic year of 2016-2017, that 350 students (195 male and 155 female) were chose by cluster sampling method. Gathering data tool included Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI), Alexithymia Scale, 4 factors of Catell's Sixteen Factors Personality Inventory, and Ryff Psychological Well-being Questionnaire. Data analyzed by using of SPSS-26 software with Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariable regression analysis. Results: Findings showed that self-differentiation, Alexithymia and ego strength could predict 25/38 variance of psychological well-being (P&lt;0.001). Also there was direct correlation between psychological well-being with self-differentiation and ego strength, and was negative correlation with Alexithymia (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: With attention to results the role of self-differentiation, Alexithymia and ego strength in prediction of psychological well-being were important. It can be indicate that high levels of self-differentiation and ego strength, and low level of Alexithymia were salient in shaping of psychological well-being, and with diagnosing and improvement in selfdifferentiation, Alexithymia and ego strength can expect to promotion in psychological wellbeing in students.

Cutaneous body image in psoriasis: The role of attachment style and alexithymia

The aim of this study was to estimate the contribution of adult attachment style and alexithymia to cutaneous body image in patients with psoriasis while controlling for the confounding effects of disease severity and depressive symptoms. Participants were 107 consecutive patients (60% women) with a diagnosis of plaque-type psoriasis. Cutaneous body dissatisfaction was measured with the Cutaneous Body Image Scale (CBIS) and disease severity with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Depressive symptoms, attachment style and alexithymia were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), respectively. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that, independently from the severity of skin disease and depressive symptoms, patients with an insecure-avoidant attachment style and higher levels of alexithymia reported greater cutaneous body dissatisfaction. Because of the cross-sectional design, the causal relationship between avoidant attachment, alexithymia and cutaneous body image cannot be determined. There was no control group. Clinical assessment of patients with psoriasis should include attachment style and alexithymia among the psychological variables related to cutaneous body dissatisfaction.

Individuals with Autistic Traits Exhibit Heightened Alexithymia But Intact Interoceptive-Exteroceptive Sensory Integration.

Interoceptive accuracy has been widely measured using the Heartbeat Tracking Test (HTT). We devised the novel paradigm of Interoception-Exteroception Synchronicity Judgement (IESJ) task to assess participants' interoceptive accuracy, exteroceptive accuracy, and the balancing score which reflected the ability to allocate attentions between interoceptive and exteroceptive signals. This study administered the behavioural paradigms of the HTT and the IESJ as well as other self-report scales to 119 typically-developing youths. Individuals with lower autistic traits (n = 30) showed comparable interoceptive accuracy, exteroceptive accuracy, and balancing scores as their higher autistic traits counterparts (n = 33). Taken together, the high autistic traits subgroup exhibited higher levels of alexithymia but not empathy or interoception than the low autistic traits subgroup.

Differences in the use of emotion regulation strategies between anorexia and bulimia nervosa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveResearch has identified abnormal emotion regulation (ER) as an underlying mechanism in the onset and maintenance of eating disorders. Yet, it still remains unclear whether different forms of ER, adaptive and maladaptive strategies, are similar across categories of eating disorders. MethodA systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out to look at ER differences between anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), two common eating disorder pathologies with different eating patterns. Results41 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results revealed no differences in the use of maladaptive ER strategies between individuals with AN and BN, however patients with AN tend to use less adaptive ER strategies as compared to patients with BN. ConclusionsMaking less use of adaptive strategies in AN might be due to low body weight and high levels of alexithymia which define AN. In order to improve treatment outcome in individuals suffering from AN, these findings suggest to focus more on improving the use of adaptive ER strategies.

Trait Emotional Intelligence and School Burnout Discriminate Between High and Low Alexithymic Profiles: A Study With Female Adolescents.

Alexithymic traits, which entail finding it difficult to recognize and describe one’s own emotions, are linked with poor trait emotional intelligence (TEI) and difficulties in identifying and managing stressors. There is evidence that alexithymia may have detrimental consequences for wellbeing and health, beginning in adolescence. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the prevalence and incidence of alexithymia in teenage girls, testing the statistical power of TEI and student burnout to discriminate between high- and low-alexithymic subjects. A sample of 884 female high school students (mean age 16.2 years, age range 14–19) attending three Italian academic-track high schools (social sciences and humanities curriculum) completed self-report measures of alexithymia, school burnout, and TEI. Main descriptive statistics and correlational analysis preceded the discriminant analysis. The mean alexithymia scores suggest a high prevalence of alexithymia in female adolescents; as expected, this trait was negatively correlated with TEI and positively associated with school burnout. Participants with high vs. low alexithymia profiles were discriminated by a combination of TEI and burnout scores. High scores for the emotionality and self-control dimensions of TEI were strongly associated with membership of the low alexithymia group; high scores for the emotional exhaustion dimension of school burnout were indicative of membership of the high alexithymia group. These findings suggest crucial focuses for educational intervention: efforts to reduce the risk of emotional exhaustion and school burnout should especially concentrate on enhancing emotional awareness and self-control skills, both strongly associated with low levels of alexithymia.

Sleep quality and child abuse: the mediating role of alexithymia

ABSTRACT Child abuse victims often experience sleep problems, but the possible underlying mediators between them are not well known. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and child abuse through the mediation role of alexithymia in a sample of 200 students of Tabriz University. The results show that child abuse experience and its components (emotional, physical, sexual abuse, and neglect) were significantly associated with low sleep quality and greater level of alexithymia. Findings of the structural equation model unveiled that child abuse experience and its components directly predicted sleep quality. Alexithymia was also a good mediator for the relationship between sleep quality and child abuse. This result suggests that alexithymia might be one mechanism linking sleep quality and child abuse.

Эмпирическое исследование уровня алекситимии и совладающего поведения пациентов с аутоиммунным тиреоидитом и сахарным диабетом первого типа

Within the framework of this topic, coping behavior and emotional responses of patients with chronic autoimmune diseases were studied. The relevance of this topic is beyond doubt, since in recent decades an obvious increase in the number of diseases of this kind can be observed, hence it is especially important to study the psychological factors that affect the appearance and development of their symptoms. The aim of the study is to compare and study the features of the manifestation of emotions and the choice of coping strategies in patients with autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes mellitus. The study involved 62 respondents, whose average age is 40 years. The work used four methods aimed at studying the level of alexithymia, prevailing emotional reactions, coping behavior choices and dissatisfaction rates inherent in patients with the diagnoses considered. As a result of the study, it turned out that in the group with autoimmune thyroiditis, patients have difficulties in tracking and expressing their emotions in a constructive way, since the suppression of negative in favor of positive leads in this case to a gradual accumulation of dissatisfaction with oneself, which with age begins to strongly influence the patient's adaptability. In turn, in the group with type 1 diabetes mellitus, patients also find it difficult to track and constructively express their emotions, both positive and negative, often tend to anxiety-depressive experiences, which affects the adaptability of their emotional and cognitive coping strategies.

Suicide probability in psychiatric patients' primary caregivers: The role of care burden, alexithymia and some risk factors

BackgroundAlthough suicidal ideation seems to be related with both burden of care and alexithymia, there is no study investigating the correlation between these factors and suicide probability in informal caregivers of psychiatric patients in the literature. AimIn this study, it was aimed to determine the suicide probability in psychiatric patients' primary caregivers, and to evaluate the effects of care burden, alexithymia and some risk factors on suicide probability. MethodsThis study was conducted with 262 caregivers between February 2019 and December 2019. Data were collected with the Personal Information Form, Suicide Probability Scale, Zarit Burden Interview, Toronto Alexithymia Scale. ResultsThe mean score the caregivers obtained from the Suicide Probability Scale was 79.75 ± 59.29, and 17.9% of them were at risk for suicide. Also, caregivers' suicide probability was related to variables such as caregivers' sex, economic status, presence of any disease, duration of care, and patients' education level, psychiatric diagnosis, duration of illness, presence of physical illness, compliance with treatment. In addition, caregivers' burden and alexithymia levels were significantly associated with the participating caregivers' suicide probability. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that approximately one out of every five caregivers was at risk for suicide. Therefore, hospital and community-based intervention strategies to support caregivers should be developed.

Распространенность алекситимии среди студентов медицинского вуза. Взаимосвязь с соматической заболеваемостью, наличием вредных привычек и уровнем успеваемости

Aim. To determine the prevalence and severity of alexithymia among medical university students. To assess the relationship between somatic pathology in students and academic performance. Material and methods. An anonymous standardized questionnaire survey of 130 students of the Tyumen State Medical University was conducted. The questionnaire is based on a Russian-language validated version of the 20-point Toronto Alexithymia Scale for quantifying alexithymia, including information about age, gender, concomitant psychosomatic diseases, unwanted habits, and self-assessment of academic performance. Results. Among the examined students, the frequency of alexithymia was 6,2%. The risk group for alexithymia included 12.3% of the surveyed students. Diseases of a psychosomatic nature (arterial hypertension, VSD, cephalgia, bronchial asthma, chronic skin diseases) were registered twice as often. Alexithymia is often combined with a number of undesirable habits, among which alcohol abuse, smoking, nail biting, and sweet drinking predominate. The relationship between the presence of alexithymia and reduced academic performance is determined. Conclusion. To reduce the negative impact of alexithymia on somatic and mental health, the effectiveness of training and personal development of students, it is necessary to conduct a systematic assessment of the level of alexithymia. When identifying alexithymia or its risk, use methods of psychotherapeutic correction.

Systematic Review of Alexithymia in the Population of Hemodialysis Patients.

Alexithymia is a construct defined as the inability to differentiate between emotional experiences and bodily sensations. According to existing knowledge, alexithymia may have a major effect on the process of treatment and the outcome of the hemodialysis disease. The objective of this literature review was to determine the significance that alexithymia has for compliance and variables of clinical and mental health in the population of hemodialysis patients. For the above purpose, bibliographic databases “MEDLINE” and “Web of Science” were searched. The matrix method was used in analysis of articles. Searching both databases resulted in 248 articles. After applying exclusion and inclusion criteria, we included results of 13 articles in the literature review. The results of the search are findings regarding the prevalence and correlation of alexithymia with variables of clinical and mental health in hemodialysis patients. Alexithymia is significantly more common in the population of hemodialysis patients, and it has a negative effect on their mental and somatic health. Alexithymia levels in hemodialysis patients are more pronounced in cases where there is a greater number of comorbidities. Alexithymia is the predictor of high mortality rate in the population of hemodialysis patients, independent of other comorbidities.

The Relationships of Neurobiological and Immune Variables in Patients with Epilepsy: The Role of Alexithymia

Objective: to study the relationship between neurobiological, immune parameters and alexithymia in patients with epilepsy. Material and methods: 58 patients with epilepsy (26 men, 32 women) were studied. Temporal epilepsy was diagnosed in 25, frontal — in 16, and frontal-temporal — in 17 patients. The frequency and type of seizures, duration of remission, severity of seizures, level of alexithymia, and parameters of immunity analyzed. To assess the relationships, the analysis of variance MANOVA is used. Results: the influence of alexithymia and immunological factors CD4+ , CD4+ /CD8+ and CD8+ on the frequency of complex focal seizures (CFS) was revealed. With high CD4+ , CD4+ /CD8+ values and low CD8+ values, the CFS frequency increases, which has an unfavorable prognostic value. The combination of alexithymia and right temporal focus also led to an increase in the frequency and severity of CFS. Statistically signifi cant correlations were found between the alexithymia and the intensity of immunity (CD4+ / CD8+ ). Conclusions: the results obtained support the hypothesis of the so-called innate immune mechanisms of alexithymia. Determination of the level of alexithymia can be used to predict the course of epilepsy.

The Level of Ruminative Thought and Alexithymia of People in the COVID-19 Pandemic Process.

The COVID-19 pandemic process caused many physiological and psychological effects on individuals. This study aims to examine the ruminative thinking and alexithymia levels of people in the COVID-19 pandemic process. The descriptive, cross-sectional, and the correlational designed study was conducted with 852 people in ?stanbul\Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic process between March and May 2020. The data of the research was collected with the Sociodemographic Form Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire. It was found that the average of ruminative thought score of the people was 92.49±19.89 and the alexithymia score average was 71.76±13.70. A positive and significant relationship was found between the Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and subscale scores (p<0.05). According to the results, ruminative thinking levels were affected by 12% alexithymia level and 9% time spent on conversation. A statistically significant relationship was found between rumination, alexithymia, and its sub-dimensions and the number of times people spend for conversation during the day and the number of people they live with (p<0.05). It was determined that those living with family/friends were lower than those who were alone, and those with good communication in relationships had lower rumination and alexithymia (p<0.05). Care should be taken against alexithymia and rumination during the COVID-19 pandemic process, and attention should be given to interpersonal relationships, conversation, and communication in the quarantine process.

DIGITAL GAME ADDICTİON, SOCIAL ANXIETY AND ALEXITHYMIA IN ADOLESCENTS

This study was planned as a descriptive study in order to research the digital game addiction, social anxiety, and alexithymia levels of adolescents. This research was conducted with 626 adolescents in the age group of 12-15 years. The data were collected using Descriptive Characteristics Form, DGAS-7 (Digital Game Addiction Scale), SAS-A (Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents), AQC (Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children). It can be asserted in accordance with the data that digital game addiction level was high in the adolescents who were male, played strategy games, and used internet for more than three hours a day. The adolescents, who were aged between 14-15 years and had high socio-economic level, smartphone, internet in their smartphones, and no health problem, experienced more social anxiety and the adolescents, who had low socio-economic level, a high year-end success score, and health problems, showed more alexithymic personality characteristics.

Alexithymia in multiple sclerosis

Background: An independent psychological construct like alexithymia is the least studied in multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study was to determine the level of alexithymia in patients with MS and the degree of influence on it of different social and demographic characteristics of patients, including gender, age, place of residence, marital status, level of education, clinical parameters of the disease, depression and anxiety. Materials and methods: 88 hospital patients with varying degrees of severity and type of MS were examined, according to the McDonald criteria, 2010. The following scales were used to assess the signs of depression, anxiety and alexithymia: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26). Results: The prevalence of alexithymia in patients with MS was 36.36%, while 34.09% represented the "marginal" group. A statistically significant positive correlation between alexithymia and depression and anxiety in patients with MS was established. High levels of alexithymia were detected with a high degree of depression on the BDI scale. None of the above socio-demographic and clinical variables influenced statistically significantly the presence of alexithymia. Conclusion: Alexithymia can be a key psychological factor that impedes the true emotional integration of disease-related changes.

Family Functioning and Multiple Sclerosis: Study Protocol of a Multicentric Italian Project.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease, which not only affects physical functioning, but is also associated with cognitive impairments and great psychological distress. The combination of those symptoms may have negative consequences on the family functioning of patients with MS, with detrimental effects on both marital relationships and parental bonding. Furthermore, the presence of individual characteristics and of an adequate social support may also contribute to the quality and endurance of family relationships. Particularly, high levels of alexithymia, a personality trait that affects the recognition of a person's own emotions, have been associated with reduced interpersonal communication skills and enhanced anxiety/depressive symptoms. Therefore, the main aim of the present study is to provide an in-depth evaluation of family functioning and related factors in patients with MS and their families. In order to reach this goal, the perceived quality of family functioning, dyadic relationships, and parental bonding will be first investigated. Secondly, the possible associations between the quality of family relationships and the presence of alexithymia, psychological distress, and perceived social support will be examined. Patients with MS and their families who will consent to take part in the study will be asked to provide sociodemographic and clinical information, and to complete a series of questionnaires, presented and uploaded on an online dedicated platform. The final sample will be made up of 300 families, consecutively recruited from the Italian medical centers involved in the project. The results of the present study will shed light on the family functioning of patients with MS, through a comprehensive assessment of the main factors that are associated with family dynamics. A holistic evaluation of those aspects can help clinicians and researchers understand family dynamics in MS population better.