Alexithymia in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study included 55 patients having Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) for at least 1 year diagnosed according to the ASAS classification criteria who presented to our hospital's outpatient clinic and 55 healthy subjects. Demographic data were recorded for 55 AS patients who were subsequently assessed using the BASMI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index) in terms of elasticity and spinal mobility as well as the BASFI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index) to determine functional status, the BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) to assess the disease activity and the ASQoL (Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Questionnaire) to evaluate quality of life. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) was used for assessment of alexithymia and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression among patients.

Detailed Description
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The study included 55 patients having Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) for at least 1 year diagnosed according to the ASAS classification criteria who presented to our hospital's outpatient clinic and 55 healthy subjects. Demographic data were recorded for 55 AS patients who were subsequently assessed using the BASMI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index) in terms of elasticity and spinal mobility as well as the BASFI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index) to determine functional status, the BASDAI (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) to assess the disease activity and the ASQoL (Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Questionnaire) to evaluate quality of life. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) was used for assessment of alexithymia and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression among patients.

Official Title
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Alexithymia in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Conditions
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Ankylosing Spondylitis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI)
* Diagnostic Test: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI)
* Diagnostic Test: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)
* Diagnostic Test: Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (ASQoL)
* Diagnostic Test: Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20)
* Diagnostic Test: Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosed as AS for at least 1 year according to the ASAS classification criteria over 18 years old Exclusion Criteria: fibromyalgia age less than 18 years vision and hearing impairment neurological disease (Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular disease), history of a psychiatric disorder (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) history of chronic condition (DM, thyroid disease) or malignancy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| ankylosing spondylitis<br>55 patients having Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) for at least 1 year diagnosed according to the ASAS classification criteria who presented to our hospital's outpatient clinic | Diagnostic Test: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI)<br>* It characterises the spinal mobility of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Cervical rotation, tragus-wall distance, lateral lumbar flexion, anterior lumbar flexion (modified schober), intermalleolar distance were measured. The total score of the 5 measurements was taken, the score range was 0-10, the low score meant that the spinal movement was better.<br>Diagnostic Test: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI)<br>* It assess the disease activity. It was evaluated with a 6-question questionnaire. After taking the answer of each question out of 10, the total of the points was calculated by dividing the number of questions.<br>Diagnostic Test: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)<br>* It assess functional status. It was evaluated with a 10-question questionnaire. After taking the answer of each question out of 10, the total of the points was calculated by dividing the number of questions.<br>Diagnostic Test: Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (ASQoL)<br>* It evaluates quality of life. Each statement on the ASQoL (18-item) is given a score of 1 or 0. A score of 1 is given where the item is affirmed, indicating adverse QoL. All item scores are summed to give a total score or index. Scores can range from 0 (good QoL) to 18 (poor QoL).<br>Diagnostic Test: Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20)<br>* It assess alexithymia. It is a 20 item questionnaire and each item is evaluated in a Likert type scale with five intervals (1= strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree). The total alexithymia score is the sum of responses to all 20 items, while the score for each subscale factor is the sum of the responses to that subscale. The TAS-20 uses cutoff scoring: equal to or less than 51 = non-alexithymia, equal to or greater than 61 = alexithymia. Scores of 52 to 60 = possible alexithymia.<br>Diagnostic Test: Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI)<br>* It assess depression status. It is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory, each set is ranked in terms of severity and scored from 0 to 3 with a total summed score range of 0-63. Higher scores indicate greater depressive severity. Conventional cutoffs are 0-9 for normal range, 10-18 for mild to moderate depression, 19-29 for moderate to severe depression, and 30-63 for severe depression.<br>|
| healthy control<br>age and sex matched healthy controls | Diagnostic Test: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI)<br>* It characterises the spinal mobility of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Cervical rotation, tragus-wall distance, lateral lumbar flexion, anterior lumbar flexion (modified schober), intermalleolar distance were measured. The total score of the 5 measurements was taken, the score range was 0-10, the low score meant that the spinal movement was better.<br>Diagnostic Test: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI)<br>* It assess the disease activity. It was evaluated with a 6-question questionnaire. After taking the answer of each question out of 10, the total of the points was calculated by dividing the number of questions.<br>Diagnostic Test: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)<br>* It assess functional status. It was evaluated with a 10-question questionnaire. After taking the answer of each question out of 10, the total of the points was calculated by dividing the number of questions.<br>Diagnostic Test: Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (ASQoL)<br>* It evaluates quality of life. Each statement on the ASQoL (18-item) is given a score of 1 or 0. A score of 1 is given where the item is affirmed, indicating adverse QoL. All item scores are summed to give a total score or index. Scores can range from 0 (good QoL) to 18 (poor QoL).<br>Diagnostic Test: Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20)<br>* It assess alexithymia. It is a 20 item questionnaire and each item is evaluated in a Likert type scale with five intervals (1= strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree). The total alexithymia score is the sum of responses to all 20 items, while the score for each subscale factor is the sum of the responses to that subscale. The TAS-20 uses cutoff scoring: equal to or less than 51 = non-alexithymia, equal to or greater than 61 = alexithymia. Scores of 52 to 60 = possible alexithymia.<br>Diagnostic Test: Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI)<br>* It assess depression status. It is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory, each set is ranked in terms of severity and scored from 0 to 3 with a total summed score range of 0-63. Higher scores indicate greater depressive severity. Conventional cutoffs are 0-9 for normal range, 10-18 for mild to moderate depression, 19-29 for moderate to severe depression, and 30-63 for severe depression.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alexithymia rate in AS patients and controls according to Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 |  | 7 months | 
| Depression rate in AS patients and controls according to Beck Depression Inventory |  | 7 months | 
| Relationship between alexithymia and depression and functional indexes (BASFI, BASMI, BASDAI, ASQoL) |  | 7 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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ankylosing spondylitis, alexithymia