Patients with COPD were categorized into three alexithymia profiles: high (28.85%), moderate (63.46%), and low (7.69%).
COPD duration, depression, activity intensity, self-perceived social support, psychological resilience, and anxiety were associated with different alexithymia profiles.
Interpretation:
The study identified three preliminary alexithymia profiles among patients with COPD and highlighted factors associated with these profiles.
Limitations:
Potential selection bias due to convenience sampling.
Findings require validation in multicenter studies before generalization.
Conclusion:
The associations among COPD duration, depression, activity intensity, social support, resilience, and anxiety provide empirical evidence for developing tailored patient classification and targeted support strategies.
