OBJECTIVE To compare sex differences in alexithymia (poor emotional processing) in males and females with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and uninjured controls. SETTING TBI rehabilitation facility in the USA and a University in Canada. PARTICIPANTS Sixty adults with moderate to severe TBI (62% males) and 60 uninjured controls (63% males) DESIGN: Cross-sectional. MAIN MEASURES Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20). RESULTS Uninjured males had significantly higher (worse) alexithymia scores than uninjured female participants on the TAS-20 (p=.007), whereas, no sex differences were found in the TBI group (p=.698). Males and females with TBI had significantly higher alexithymia compared to uninjured same-sex controls (both ps<.001). The prevalence of participants with scores exceeding alexithymia sex-based norms for males and females with TBI was 37.8% and 47.8% respectively, compared to 7.9% and 0% for male and females without TBI. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to the majority of findings in the general population, males with TBI were not more alexthymic than their female counterparts with TBI. Both males and females with TBI have more severe alexithymia than their uninjured same-sex peers, and moreover, both are equally at risk for elevated alexithymia compared to norms. Alexithymia should be evaluated and treated after TBI regardless of patient sex.

中文翻译：

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创伤性脑损伤后情绪洞察力的性别差异

目的 比较患有创伤性脑损伤 (TBI) 和未受伤对照组的男性和女性在述情障碍（情绪处理能力差）方面的性别差异。在美国和加拿大的一所大学设置 TBI 康复设施。参与者 60 名中度至重度 TBI 成人（62% 男性）和 60 名未受伤对照（63% 男性） 设计：横断面。主要措施 多伦多述情障碍量表 20 (TAS-20)。结果 在 TAS-20 中，未受伤的男性比未受伤的女性参与者的述情障碍评分显着更高（更差），而在 TBI 组中没有发现性别差异（p=.698）。与未受伤的同性对照相比，患有 TBI 的男性和女性的述情障碍明显更高（均 ps<.001）。对于患有 TBI 的男性和女性，得分超过述情障碍性别标准的参与者的患病率为 37。分别为 8% 和 47.8%，而没有 TBI 的男性和女性分别为 7.9% 和 0%。结论 与一般人群中的大多数发现相反，患有 TBI 的男性并不比患有 TBI 的女性更具有无意识障碍。与未受伤的同性同龄人相比，患有 TBI 的男性和女性都有更严重的述情障碍，而且，与正常人相比，两者都同样面临述情障碍升高的风险。无论患者性别如何，都应在 TBI 后评估和治疗述情障碍。与正常人相比，两者都同样面临述情障碍升高的风险。无论患者性别如何，都应在 TBI 后评估和治疗述情障碍。与正常人相比，两者都同样面临述情障碍升高的风险。无论患者性别如何，都应在 TBI 后评估和治疗述情障碍。