In this study, it was aimed to evaluation of alexithymia in male patients before open-heart surgery. The correlation between alexithymia and psychopathology was also investigated.

Thirty-two male patients who had cardiovascular disease were enrolled before open-heart surgery. Socio-demographic characteristics and clinical features of the patients were determined. Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were applied.

The mean age of the patients was 55.20± 11.72 years. The mean scores were 51.71±9.90 for alexithymia, 6.44±3.86 for anxiety, 5.06±3.61 for depression, 38.91±10.21 for state anxiety and 41.22±7.46 for trait anxiety. The positive correlations between Toronto Alexithymia Score and Depression, Interpersonal sensitivity, Hostility, Paranoid Ideation, Psychoticism and Global Severity Index subscales of SCL-90-R were statistically significant. There were no statistically significant correlations between TAS and HADS, and STAI scores.

The most interesting finding was that there is a correlation between alexithymia and paranoid ideation, and psychoticism in these patients. Contrary to expectations, this study did not find a significant correlation between alexithymia and anxiety and depression. Further research should be done to investigate the comparative studies in patients with different diseases at pre-and post-operative period.