Alexithymia and depression: a 1-year follow-up study in outpatients with major depression.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Difficulties in identifying and in describing feelings are associated with changes in mood, while externally oriented thinking is not.
Saarijärvi
S
S
Department of Psychiatry (722), Turku University Central Hospital, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland. simo.saarijarvi@tyks.fi
Salminen
J K
JK
Toikka
T B
TB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales