The effect of alexithymia and depressive feelings on pain perception in somatoform pain disorder.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between alexithymia and depression and their influence on the subjective versus experimental pain perception in somatoform pain disorder.

Methods: Three groups consisting of 40 patients with somatoform pain disorder, 40 patients with depression, and 40 healthy controls were matched. They completed questionnaires regarding alexithymia (TAS26) and depressive feelings (BDI-II).