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{{Construction Site}} '''AlexithemiaAlexithymia''' is a word used to describe "people who have difficulties recognizing, processing, and regulating emotions." Alexithemia Alexithymia is considered to be a ''personality trait'', not a mental disorder. Alexithemia Alexithymia occurs in more males than females. Alexithemia Alexithymia occurs frequently with other disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and posttraumatic [[post-traumatic stress disorder ]] (PTSD)<ref>{{REFweb
spelling
|url=https://psychology.wikia.org/wiki/Alexithymia
|title=Alexithymia
}}</ref>
The [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656609000828 Toronto Alexithymia Scale ] is frequently used to assess a patient's degree of alexithemiaalexithymia.<ref>{{REFweb
|url=https://psychology.wikia.org/wiki/Toronto_Alexithymia_Scale
|title=Toronto Alexithymia Scale
|quote=
}}</ref>
The higher percentage of alexithymia in males as compared with females and the occurrence of it with other disorders associated with non-therapeutic infant [[circumcision]] such as autism spectrum disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder suggest that infant circumcision may be a contributing factor.
[[Dan Bollinger|Bollinger]] & [[Robert S. Van Howe|Van Howe]] (2011) conducted a preliminary survey of 300 men, of which 64 were [[intact]] (21.3%) and 236 (78.7%) were circumcised.<ref name="bollinger2011">{{REFjournal
|last=Bollinger
|first=Dan
|init=D
|author-link=Dan Bollinger
|last2=Van Howe
|first2=Robert S.
|init2=RS
|author2-link=Robert S. Van Howe
|etal=no
|title=Alexithymia and Circumcision Trauma: A Preliminary Investigation
|journal=International Journal of Men’s Health
|location=
|date=2011
|volume=10
|issue=2
|pages=184-95
|url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/676d/b908ff4629702b99da6d77739d1300370bd4.pdf
|quote=
|pubmedID=
|pubmedCID=
|DOI=10.3149/jmh.1002.184
|accessdate=2019-12-12
}}</ref>
The men were tested using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. [[Circumcised]] men had ALEX scores (19.9%) higher than the [[intact]] men.
It also emerged that [[circumcised]] men are much more likely to experience erectile dysfunction as compared with [[intact]] men.
[[Dan Bollinger|Bollinger]] & [[Robert S. Van Howe|Van Howe]] (2011) concluded:
<blockquote>In this self-selected, self-reporting group of 300 men, alexithymia was statistically significant for having experienced circumcision [[trauma]]. The circumcised men were 1.57 times more likely to have High ALEX scores and 2.30 times less likely to have Low ALEX scores. The age-adjusted, average ALEX score for the [[circumcised]] men was 6.40 points (19.9%) higher than for [[intact]] men. … The circumcised men were 4.53 times more likely to use an erectile dysfunction drug.<ref name="bollinger2011"/>
</blockquote>
This preliminary investigation by [[Dan Bollinger|Bollinger]] & [[Robert S. Van Howe|Van Howe]] has established an association between [[circumcision]] and alexithymia, however it is inadequate to establish cause and effect. More investigation is needed.
{{SEEALSO}}
* [[Psychological issues of male circumcision]]
* [[Trauma]]
{{REF}}
[[Category:Parental information]]
[[Category:Penile disorder]]
[[Category:Term]]