Factors associated with alexithymia in patients suffering from depression.
BACKGROUND
We studied the factors associated with alexithymia in 137 depressed outpatients.


METHODS
Diagnosis of depression was confirmed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R. Alexithymia was screened using the 20-item version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Severity of depression was assessed using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory, and other psychiatric symptoms with the help of the Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90). Life satisfaction was also assessed with a structured scale.


RESULTS
Almost half of the patients were considered alexithymic. They were significantly more often male, unmarried and had a lower education than the nonalexithymic patients. Alexithymic patients more often showed psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90) and were also more often severely depressed and dissatisfied with their life than were the other patients. Logistic regression analyses revealed that four factors were independently associated with alexithymia: male gender, a low level of education, low life satisfaction and severe depression. Sleep disturbances were independently associated with alexithymia in men and severe depression in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Alexithymia is very common among patients with depressive disorder. An awareness of these risk factors would be useful in improving the efficacy of treatment.
Honkalampi
K
K
Department of Psychiatry, Research and Development Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. kirsi.honkalampi.kuh.fi
Saarinen
P
P
Hintikka
J
J
Virtanen
V
V
Viinamäki
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications; D012944:Social Support