Alexithymia Frequency and Interhemispheric Transfer in Patients With a First Demyelinating Event
Alexithymia Frequency and Interhemispheric Transfer in Patients With a First Demyelinating Event
Prevalence of alexithymia in multiple sclerosis (MS) is closed to 50% but is unknown in
 clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).The present study sought to characterize alexithymia in
 CIS patients and his link between psycho behavioral and cognitive disturbances.

 In this context, the objectives of the present study were to (a ) define the prevalence of
 alexithymia in CIS patients, (b ) to study this relation between psycho behavioral and
 cognitive disorders frequently encountered in MS.
The aim to recruit 40 CIS patients with at least two subclinical lesions on brain MRI.
 Patients are tested only one month at least after steroids intake and after 6 weeks at least
 after any relapse. The control group include 40 right -handed participants; each of them are
 matched for age, gender, and education level with a CIS patient.

 The parameters to be evaluated are:

 The prevalence of alexithymia is assessed by The Toronto Alexithymia Scale TAS-20, a
 self-reported scale. The TAS-20 total score corresponds to global level of alexithymia, as
 the sum of these three subdomains: 1.Difficulties in Identifying Feelings (DIF); 2.
 Difficulties in Describing Feelings (DDF); 3. Externally Oriented Thinking (EOT).

 Standard neurological examination is performed by a neurologist using the Kurtzke Expanded
 Disability Status Scale (EDSS ).

 The standardized neuropsychological battery, named BCcogSEP, is administrated. The BCcogSEP
 is made of eight tests commonly impaired in MS. Fourteen scores were obtained and a score was
 considered impaired when it was inferior to 5th percentile range compared to the normal
 range. The number of impaired scores are considered and a cognitive impairment is considered
 when 4 scores are superior or equal to percentile 5th.

 For psychobehavioral assessments, the investigators estimated (a) depression (according to
 the Beck Depression Inventory; BDI (30)) and anxiety (according to the State-Trait Anxiety
 Inventory (31)); (b) apathy (according to the Lille Apathy Rating Scale (32)); (c) empathy
 (according to Interpersonal Reactivity Index; IRI).
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  right-handed patient

 -  at least 1 month after steroid intake

 -  without severe neurological impairment

 -  without psychiatric disorder

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  patients with steroids in the last month

 -  patients with psychotropic drugs started in the last month

 -  patients with immunotherapies

 -  patients having contra indications for MRI

 -  pregnancy or breast feeding