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Alexithymia and depression: a 1-year follow-up study in outpatients with major depression
S Saarijärvi1, J K Salminen, T B Toikka
1Department of Psychiatry (722), Turku University Central Hospital, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland. simo.saarijarvi@tyks.fi
Objective:
To examine the changes in alexithymic features and depressive and other psychological distress symptoms during a 1-year follow-up among patients with major depression.
Methods:
The study population comprised 120 outpatients suffering from major depression. Diagnosis was made with Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-I) for DSM-III-R. The severity of depression was evaluated with the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), and self-reported depression with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21). Alexithymic features were assessed with the Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Self-reported psychological distress symptoms were evaluated with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI).
Results:
Measures of depression and distress were significantly lower at the follow-up than at the baseline, while the total TAS-20 scores did not change significantly during the follow-up. A closer examination revealed that various TAS-20 factors behaved differently. Changes in Factors 1 and 2 were associated with changes in mood, whereas those in Factor 3 were not. Additionally, recovery from depression was associated with decrease in alexithymic features.
Conclusion:
Difficulties in identifying and in describing feelings are associated with changes in mood, while externally oriented thinking is not.