Alexithymia in the elderly general population.
Alexithymia was investigated in a random population sample of 566 people over 60 years of age (average, 69.73 years; range, 61 to 95 years) with the help of a German version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26), and the results were compared with those from a group of 1,481 people under 60 years of age (average, 38.86 years; range, 14 to 60 years). The average alexithymia values in the elderly were not significantly higher than those of the younger subjects under 60 years of age. A total of 15.2% of the elderly and 18% of the younger group registered more than 1 SD over the mean value of all those sampled. This difference is also not statistically significant. Levels of alexithymia were not associated with age, gender, or education in the over-60 groups. The alexithymia scales "difficulties with identifying feelings" and "difficulties with describing feelings" correlated significantly with negative mood and negative body experience. These results confirm the assumption that there is a connection between alexithymia and depression, and correspond to the findings of other studies, that alexithymia is associated with a tendency to psychosomatic illness.
Gunzelmann
Thomas
T
Department of Medical Psychology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Friedrichstrasse 36, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
Kupfer
Jörg
J
Brähler
Elmar
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D012494:Sampling Studies