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[Alexithymia: important for understanding mood disorders with older adults?]
B Mooi1, H C Comijs, M A Cladder
1Zorgprogramma ouderenpsychiatrie, Symfora groep (CGz Centraal), lokatie Zon & Schild, Amersfoort. b.mooi@symfora.nl
Tijdschrift Voor Gerontologie En Geriatrie
|July 3, 2010
Summary
Alexithymia, difficulty identifying emotions, is a stable personality trait in older adults. It does not predict depression outcomes but warrants consideration in geriatric mood disorder assessment and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Affective Neuroscience
Context:
- Mood disorders, particularly depression, are prevalent in older adults.
- Understanding the role of personality traits in the course and outcome of these disorders is crucial for effective treatment.
- Alexithymia, characterized by difficulties in cognitive and affective emotion regulation, has been proposed as a relevant factor.
Purpose:
- To investigate alexithymia as a stable personality trait in older adults with depressive disorders.
- To determine if alexithymia is independent of the Big Five personality traits.
- To examine the association between alexithymia and the course and outcome of depression over three months.
Summary:
- Alexithymia was assessed using the Bermond Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ) in older adults with (sub)clinical depression at intake and after three months.
- Results indicated that alexithymia functions as a stable and independent personality trait.
- However, alexithymia did not predict depression outcomes at the three-month follow-up.
Impact:
- Alexithymia should be considered in the assessment and treatment strategies for depression in older adults.
- The findings highlight the stability and independence of alexithymia as a personality trait in this population.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex relationship between alexithymia and geriatric mood disorders.
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