Hypothesizing that a positive DST result could reflect an aberrant
stress reaction in subjects with alexithymic features, the authors
investigated the relationship between alexithymic features and DST results
in 266 subjects from a Finnish adult population sample. Alexithymic
features were assessed with the Beth Israel Questionnaire. The authors
found a statistically significant association between observed alexithymic
features and a positive DST result. This association could be seen after
adjustment separately for age, social rank, marital status, and the
occurrence of depression.
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