Eating Disorders are characterized by a multifactorial aetiology that includes, according to several authors, the presence of the alexithymic traits in the personality structure of these patients, with the acquisition of dysfunctional familiar comunication pattern. The aim of this study is to appraise the presence of Alexithymia in ED patients and in their parents comparison with control families. 30 subjects with Eating Disorders and their parents and 30 control families have completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and the Symptom Check List 90, clinical families were paired for gender, age and social-economic status to a control group. The clinical families are more alexithymic than the control families, revealing moreover some significant psychopathological scales of SCL-90, of which the Depression has the highest correlation with Alexithymia. The presence of alexithymic traits both in parents and in patients confirms the importance of this personality trait in the ED and put in evidence the central role of the family in the in pathogenesis, maintenance and treatment of this diffused pathology.
Keywords: Alexithymia, Eating Disorders, Family, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Symptom Check List 90.

Laura Vona, Maria Grasso, Francesca Nazzaro, Emilia Costa, Camillo Loriedo, in "RIVISTA DI PSICOTERAPIA RELAZIONALE " 29/2009, pp. 17-44, DOI:10.3280/PR2009-029002