title: Does alexithymia expose to mental disorder symptoms in late adolescence? A 4-year follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible causal link between alexithymia and the emergence of anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as alcohol consumption in a sample of late adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The nonclinical sample comprised late adolescents (n = 315), including both females (n = 256) and males (n = 59). The follow-up period was 4 years, and at baseline, the mean age of the subjects was 19 years (range 17-21 years). Alexithymia was measured with the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), depression symptoms with the short form of the Beck Depression Inventory (RBDI), anxiety with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and alcohol consumption with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). The three TAS-20 subscales were assessed separately. Linear and cumulative logistic regression analyses were used for the evaluation of associations, and the analyses were adjusted with the corresponding baseline scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TAS-20 total and subscale scores did not predict the RBDI or AUDIT scores at follow-up. However, the TAS-20 subscale "difficulty identifying feelings" was significantly associated with both STAI-State (P = .007) and STAI-Trait (P = .004) scores at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alexithymic features may be individual predictors of later anxiety symptoms. The significant differences between the various dimensions of alexithymia should be considered in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Turku, Kaskenkatu 18 A 3, FI-20700 Turku, Finland; Unit of Adolescent Psychiatry, Satakunta Hospital District, Antinkatu 15 A, FI-28100 Pori, Finland. Electronic address: max.karukivi@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karukivi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 1, FI-20520 Turku, Finland. Electronic address: tero.vahlberg@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Tero
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vahlberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 1, FI-20520 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuukka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pölönen
authors.affiliation: Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Turku, Kaskenkatu 18 A 3, FI-20700 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Filppu
authors.affiliation: Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Turku, Kaskenkatu 18 A 3, FI-20700 Turku, Finland; Unit of Adolescent Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Kaskenkatu 18 A 3, FI-20700 Turku, Finland. Electronic address: simo.saaarijarvi@tyks.fi.
authors.forename: Simo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saarijärvi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent; Alexithymia; Anxiety; Depression; Prospective