Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
04:33
Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Published on: April 26, 2024
Alexithymia and cognitive behaviour therapy outcome for subthreshold depression
V Spek1, I Nyklícek, P Cuijpers
1Department of Medical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands. v.r.m.spek@uvt.nl
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|May 24, 2008
Summary
Alexithymia, the inability to identify and describe emotions, is not a fixed trait. It changes with depressive symptoms and does not impede cognitive behavior therapy outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychotherapy Research
Background:
- Alexithymia is often considered a stable personality trait.
- It is hypothesized to negatively impact psychotherapy outcomes.
- This study investigates the stability of alexithymia and its effect on therapy benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if alexithymia changes with depressive symptoms.
- To determine if baseline alexithymia affects cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) outcomes.
- To re-evaluate the stability of alexithymia in the context of depression treatment.
Main Methods:
- 201 participants with subthreshold depression received CBT.
- Depressive symptoms and alexithymia were assessed pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 1-year follow-up.
- Correlations between changes in alexithymia and depressive symptoms were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Changes in depressive symptoms significantly correlated with changes in alexithymia.
- Initial alexithymia scores did not predict treatment success.
- The findings challenge the notion of alexithymia as a completely stable trait.
Conclusions:
- Alexithymia demonstrates less stability than previously assumed.
- Improvements in depressive symptoms are associated with changes in alexithymia.
- Alexithymia does not appear to be a barrier to successful cognitive behavior therapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
01:25Beck's Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
01:24Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert Ellis's...
01:27Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia
Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...
01:18Depression: Overview
Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...