Characterising alexithymia in individuals with functional motor disorders: a cross-sectional analysis of the Italian Registry of Functional Motor Disorders.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alexithymia, a personality trait characterised by difficulty in identifying and expressing emotions, may contribute to the onset and clinical presentation of functional motor disorders (FMDs), although this association remains underexplored.

Methods

From the Italian Registry of FMDs, we selected individuals recruited between November 2011 and January 2023, diagnosed with FMD according to Gupta and Lang criteria and assessed for various neurological and psychological features with validated rating scales. The main statistical analysis included regression models using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20 items as an explanatory variable for a set of clinical measures, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and correcting for multiple testing.

Results

In a cohort

SUBMITTER: Ostuzzi G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12505115 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature