Relationship Between Alexithymia, Cognitive Function and the Pain and Emotional Symptoms in Adolescent Migraine Patients.

Objective: Exploring the relationship between alexithymia, cognitive function and the pain and emotional symptoms in adolescent patients with migraines.

Methods: The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS)-20 was used to evaluate adolescent patients with migraines. A total score of TAS-20 ≤51 scores was defined as no alexithymia, and the patients were divided into alexithymia group and no alexithymia group. Both groups of patients were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale, and Chinese version of the Neuropsychological State Test (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status [RBANS]). Emotional symptoms, cognitive function, pain levels, serum levels of serotonin (5-HT), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and lysophosphatidic acid were compared in the two groups. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was constructed.

Results: There were significant differences in the severity of emotional symptoms, pain, anxiety, and depression, as well as cognitive function between the two groups (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in serum 5-HT and MMP-9 levels between the two groups (p<0.05). Alexithymia was negatively correlated with immediate memory, speech function, delayed memory, and RBANS total score. Cognitive function may have a partial mediating role in pain, anxiety, and depression in the constructed SEM.

Conclusion: Alexithymia was shown to have a close relationship with cognitive function, and the pain, anxiety, and depression among adolescent patients with migraines. Alexithymia might affect the pain, anxiety, and depression in adolescent patients with migraines through partial mediation of cognitive function as shown in the constructed SEM.