The presence of alexithymia investigated by TAS-20 in chronic urticaria patients: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU), conventionally defined as the occurrence of widespread itchy weals lasting for at least six weeks, has a significant place among the dermatoses related to psychological factors. Emotions that cannot be expressed or elaborated, may be important in the etiology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of patients with CIU and compare them in terms of alexithymia. METHODS: Forty consecutive subjects with chronic urticaria were recruited from an outpatient allergologic clinic. All of the subjects completed Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Rorschach Inkblot Test according with Comprehensive System modified by Maurizio Cuffaro admin…