RESUMO
Background and objectives: Suicidal ideation is a key risk factor for suicidal behaviour among depressed individuals. To explore underlying cognitive patterns associated with suicidal ideation, the present study compared early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) among psychiatric outpatients in treatment for major depressive disorder with and without current suicidal ideation. Methods: The sample consisted of 79 depressed patients who responded to the background questionnaire and completed the Young Schema Questionnaire short form-extended, 21-item Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Hopelessness Scale. Results: Patients with suicidal ideation were more maladaptive in respect to the majority of EMSs compared to those without. After controlling for the concurrent depressive symptom severity and hopelessness Vulnerability to Harm or Illness EMS, which concerns catastrophising beliefs, remained a predictor for suicidal ideation. Conclusion: EMSs may contribute to suicidal ideation among depressed individuals regardless of their mood and future orientation. These results offer implications for the assessment and treatment of suicidality
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Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adolescente , Adulto Jovem , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adaptação Psicológica , Isolamento Social , Tentativa de Suicídio/psicologia , Depressão/psicologia , Psicometria , Suicídio/psicologia , Controle Interno-ExternoRESUMO
The aim of this population-based study (n = 329) was to explore how long-term life dissatisfaction (LS burden) and concurrent life dissatisfaction are associated with the concurrent health-related quality of life (HRQL) (RAND-36), and how long-term life dissatisfaction predicts HRQL in the general population. The sum of the life satisfaction scores in 1998, 1999, 2001 (LS burden) and the concurrent life satisfaction score (LS) in 2005 were used to categorize the study participants into satisfied, intermediate and dissatisfied groups. Differences in RAND-36 dimensions in 2005 were investigated with respect to the LS burden and concurrent life dissatisfaction. The predictive power of the LS burden for HRQL dimensions was assessed with logistic regression models. Both a high LS burden and concurrent life dissatisfaction were strongly associated with HRQL and were risk factors for poor HRQL, regardless of its dimensions. The LS burden predicted all of the RAND-36 dimensions, except for physical functioning. Screening of life dissatisfaction can be used to identify service users whose HRQL should be further investigated. Assessment of HRQL provides information on the domains and factors that require mental health nursing intervention. This knowledge could assist mental health nurses in both the alleviation of disease consequences and promotion of well-being of service users.
Assuntos
Satisfação Pessoal , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The major goal of mental health services is to improve mental health and thus also life satisfaction. However, studies assessing factors associated with life satisfaction during recovery from depression are lacking. METHODS: A 6-year natural follow-up of 121 depressive out-patients was carried out with questionnaires at baseline, 1/2, 1, 2 and 6 years completed. A structured diagnostic interview was conducted. Throughout the follow-up, clinical status was assessed with several psychometric scales for life satisfaction (LS), depression (BDI, HDRS), hopelessness (HS), functional ability (GAF, SOFAS) and general psychopathology (SCL). RESULTS: Men and women did not differ in their improvement in life satisfaction. Altogether, 77% of the patients at baseline and 22% at the end were dissatisfied. Life satisfaction on 6-year follow-up was associated with baseline lower interpersonal sensitivity (SCL subscale) and concurrently being loved by someone as well as with baseline and concurrent good self-rated health and wealth. The satisfied were better off in terms of all clinical variables, regardless of the measurement time. Depressive symptoms and hopelessness were the strongest concurrent clinical correlates of LS after 6 years. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health was strongly related to life satisfaction throughout the follow-up, while most of the non-clinical factors were not. Alleviating depression and interpersonal sensitivity and supporting social networks should be focused on in psychiatric treatment in order to improve life satisfaction among depressive patients.
Assuntos
Transtorno Depressivo/psicologia , Satisfação Pessoal , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Adulto , Idoso , Transtorno Depressivo/reabilitação , Feminino , Finlândia , Seguimentos , Humanos , Relações Interpessoais , Entrevista Psicológica , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pacientes Ambulatoriais/psicologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Women have shown to have poorer health-related quality of life (HRQL) than men. The purpose of this study was to examine HRQL, its gender differences and correlates among subjects (n = 158) with long-term mental symptoms in a population-based sample. HRQL was assessed with the eight dimensions and the Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scales of RAND-36. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were recorded and psychometric scales were administered. Psychiatric diagnoses were confirmed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. HRQL was quite poor in all dimensions of RAND-36 regardless of gender. Men and women had similarly poor scores for PCS and MCS. Mental health-related factors were main correlates of HRQL and this knowledge could be used in nursing practice and in health promotion.
Assuntos
Nível de Saúde , Transtornos Mentais/epidemiologia , Transtornos Mentais/psicologia , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Vigilância da População , Inquéritos e Questionários , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of the adipose-tissue-derived low-grade inflammation markers adiponectin and resistin in major depressive disorder (MDD) in a population-based sample. METHOD: Serum levels of adiponectin and resistin were measured from 70 DSM-IV MDD subjects and 70 healthy controls. Depression severity was assessed with the 29-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. RESULTS: The MDD group had lowered serum adiponectin levels. Regression modelling with adjustments for age, gender, overweight, several socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, coronary heart disease and metabolic syndrome showed that each 5.0 microg/ml decrease in serum adiponectin increased the likelihood of MDD by approximately 20% (P = 0.01). The resistin levels correlated with atypical (P = 0.02), but not with typical depressive symptoms (P = 0.12). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the lowered adiponectin levels in MDD are depression-specific and not explained by conventional low adiponectin-related factors such as such as coronary heart disease and metabolic disorders.
Assuntos
Adiponectina/sangue , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/metabolismo , Resistina/sangue , Adulto , Doença das Coronárias , Demografia , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/fisiopatologia , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Estilo de Vida , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Sobrepeso , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between several indicators of depression and metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHOD: A population-based sample with high (HMS group) or low (LMS group) levels of mental symptoms, including those of depression, in three follow-ups participated in a clinical examination in 2005 (n = 223). MetS was determined according to the NCEP criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was 49% in men and 21% in women. Men with MetS had higher rates of major depressive disorder than other men. They also displayed higher Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) scores and more often signs of suicidality. In logistic regression analyses, higher HDRS scores (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.04-1.64) and belonging to the HMS group (OR 10.1, 95% CI 1.98-51.3) were independent associates for MetS but only in men. CONCLUSION: The results highlight that there is an association between long-term depressive symptoms and the emergence of MetS, especially in men.
Assuntos
Transtorno Depressivo Maior/epidemiologia , Síndrome Metabólica/epidemiologia , Comorbidade , Estudos Transversais , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/diagnóstico , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/psicologia , Feminino , Finlândia , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Masculino , Síndrome Metabólica/diagnóstico , Síndrome Metabólica/psicologia , Inventário de Personalidade/estatística & dados numéricos , Psicometria , Fatores Sexuais , Estatística como AssuntoRESUMO
The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with life dissatisfaction in symptomatic patients (n = 144) with chest pain subsequently diagnosed as coronary heart disease (CHD) by coronary angiography. Life dissatisfaction was assessed with a four-item life satisfaction scale (LS), depression with the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and other psychiatric symptoms with the symptom check list (SCL). DSM-III-R Axis I and Axis II psychiatric diagnoses were performed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview. All assessments took place one day before angiography. Twenty-four per cent of CHD patients were dissatisfied with their lives. Life dissatisfaction was associated with being unmarried. Dissatisfied patients had Axis I mental disorders and Axis II personality disorders more frequently than others. Psychiatric and depressive symptoms according to the SCL and BDI, respectively, were also higher among dissatisfied patients. In multiple logistic regression analyses, mental disorders were related to life dissatisfaction when age, sex, employment status, New York Heart Association class, duration of chest pain symptoms and work load were controlled in the model. Married subjects had a lower probability of being dissatisfied with their lives than other subjects (Odds Ratio, OR: 0.23). When BDI scores were included in the model, the only factor independently associated with life dissatisfaction was the severity of depressive symptoms (OR: 1.81). To conclude, life dissatisfaction is not primarily determined by the severity of CHD but by the existence of depressive symptoms.
Assuntos
Dor no Peito/psicologia , Doença das Coronárias/psicologia , Depressão/psicologia , Satisfação Pessoal , Idoso , Dor no Peito/diagnóstico , Dor no Peito/etiologia , Angiografia Coronária , Doença das Coronárias/complicações , Doença das Coronárias/diagnóstico , Depressão/etiologia , Feminino , Finlândia , Saúde Holística , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The association between life events and hopelessness in a general population is unknown. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the course of hopelessness and how positive and negative life events are associated with it. METHOD: This was a 2- year follow-up study among general population adults, excluding any with a mental disorder. The impact of 15 occasional life events during the follow-up was assessed and the course of hopelessness measured with the Beck Hopelessness Scale (HS). RESULTS: Four percent of the study subjects with no hopelessness at baseline and 56% of those with hopelessness at baseline reported hopelessness on follow-up. In multiple logistic regression analyses, a notable worsening of the subjective financial situation was revealed as the most important life event, both in becoming hopeless during the follow-up (OR 5.07; 95% CI 2.20-11.7) and in continued hopelessness (OR 7.51, 95% CI 2.19-25.8). Moreover, considerable interpersonal conflicts at work (OR 3.29, 95% CI 1.17-9.27) were associated with becoming hopeless. However, a notable positive change in common living conditions (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.04-0.74) was found to be a protective factor against becoming hopeless. All these variables remained significant even when adjusted for change in depression scores (BDI). CONCLUSION: Hopelessness may be persistent in a general population. The impact of life events, especially a notable worsening of the subjective financial situation, is important in becoming or remaining hopeless.
Assuntos
Transtorno Depressivo Maior/etiologia , Acontecimentos que Mudam a Vida , Adulto , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/epidemiologia , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/psicologia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Vigilância da População , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The impact of childhood traumatic events on long-term psychological development has been widely studied. Nevertheless, little research has been carried out on possible associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and hopelessness in adulthood, and whether any gender differences exist. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the association between ACEs (poor relationship between parents, unhappiness of childhood home, hard parenting, physical punishment, domestic violence, alcohol abuse in primary family) and current hopelessness without any mental disorder in a general population sample. METHOD: 1598 adults (43 % were men), aged 25-64 years, completed self-report measures to assess ACEs and hopelessness by means of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (HS). Logistic regression was used to adjust for the effects of sociodemographic factors on the association between the cumulative number of ACEs and hopelessness. RESULTS: Whereas several bivariate associations were found between ACEs and hopelessness, none of them remained significant in multivariate analysis. However, men who reported three or more ACEs were 2.79 times (95 % CI 1.17-6.63) and women 2.19 times (95 % CI 1.04-4.65) more likely to be hopeless compared with those without any ACEs. In women (OR 2.25, 95 % CI 1.01-5.00), but not in men, this relationship remained significant after adjusting for several current covariates. CONCLUSION: Clustering of ACEs may have long-lasting effects by increasing the risk of hopelessness in adulthood, especially in women. Increased awareness of the frequency of ACEs and their subsequent consequences, such as hopelessness, may encourage health care professionals to undertake preventive work in primary and mental health care.
Assuntos
Maus-Tratos Infantis/psicologia , Depressão/epidemiologia , Emoções , Relações Familiares , Acontecimentos que Mudam a Vida , Adulto , Maus-Tratos Infantis/estatística & dados numéricos , Pré-Escolar , Depressão/psicologia , Feminino , Finlândia/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Negativismo , Qualidade de Vida , Fatores SexuaisRESUMO
BACKGROUND: This 12-month follow-up study investigated the prevalence of alexithymia and its relationship with depression in a sample of the general population from Eastern Finland (n = 1,584). METHODS: Alexithymia was assessed using the 20-item version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) and depression using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: The prevalence of alexithymia in each study phase was similar (baseline: 9.7%; follow-up: 10.1%). Mean values of BDI, TAS-20 and subfactors of the TAS-20 also remained unchanged between the study phases. However, by using the original cutoff points, we found that a proportion of the subjects were in a different TAS-20 category on follow-up than at baseline. The mean values of BDI had not changed in those subjects who had similar alexithymia status in both phases, but increased or decreased in parallel with the change in TAS-20 score among all other subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that it is important to use a variety of viewpoints when studying changes in alexithymia status. Alexithymia appears to be a stable trait based on the similarity of the mean TAS-20 scores in separate study phases. However, when focusing on the changes in alexithymia status at the individual level, alexithymic features also appear to be state dependent and strongly related to depressive symptoms.
Assuntos
Sintomas Afetivos/psicologia , Feminino , Finlândia , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Inventário de Personalidade , Prevalência , Reprodutibilidade dos TestesRESUMO
The authors examined the association between alexithymia, cluster C personality disorders (CPD), and severity of depression among 121 outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in a 6-month, follow-up study. Diagnosis of depression and CPD was confirmed by means of the Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-III-R (SCID I and SCID II). Alexithymia was screened using the 20-item version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and severity of depression was assessed using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory. Results indicated that alexithymic features are common in patients with MDD but often alleviated during recovery from depression. Moreover, comorbid CPD and severity of depression seemed to be associated with poorer recovery from alexithymia. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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Sintomas Afetivos/diagnóstico , Sintomas Afetivos/epidemiologia , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/diagnóstico , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/epidemiologia , Transtornos da Personalidade/diagnóstico , Transtornos da Personalidade/epidemiologia , Adulto , Análise por Conglomerados , Comorbidade , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Índice de Gravidade de DoençaAssuntos
Transtorno Depressivo/epidemiologia , Ingestão de Alimentos/psicologia , Alimentos Marinhos , Suicídio/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto , Transtorno Depressivo/prevenção & controle , Ácidos Graxos Ômega-3/administração & dosagem , Ácidos Graxos Ômega-3/química , Feminino , Finlândia/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco , Estudos de Amostragem , Alimentos Marinhos/análise , Suicídio/psicologiaRESUMO
The authors conducted a 12-month follow-up study to determine the association between alexithymia and depression in 116 outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 540 control subjects from the general population. Alexithymia was screened using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The results show that the severity of depression was significantly associated with alexithymia. In addition, the BDI scores increased or decreased proportionately with the change in TAS-20 score in both groups. These results lend further support to the idea that alexithymia may be a state-dependent phenomenon.
Assuntos
Sintomas Afetivos/diagnóstico , Sintomas Afetivos/etiologia , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/diagnóstico , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/psicologia , Adulto , Sintomas Afetivos/terapia , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/terapia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Estudos Prospectivos , Índice de Gravidade de DoençaRESUMO
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and depression in a general population sample (N = 1,888), as measured by the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21), using factor analysis. The items of the TAS-20 and the BDI-21 loaded on separate factors with only a minor overlap concerning physical worries. However, in a subset of subjects, who were both alexithymic and depressed, loadings were highly overlapping. These findings suggest that alexithymia and depression may be highly associated. Another conclusion might be that psychometric properties of the TAS should be further developed to make differentiation between alexithymia and depression possible.
Assuntos
Sintomas Afetivos/diagnóstico , Sintomas Afetivos/epidemiologia , Depressão/diagnóstico , Depressão/epidemiologia , Vigilância da População , Adulto , Idoso , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The aim was to examine associations between memory complaints, cognitive performance and mood in 174 adult, clinically depressed, neurologically healthy patients at baseline and during six months of follow-up. METHODS: Subjective memory disturbance was assessed using the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MCQ). Levels of cognitive function, including memory, were assessed using a battery of neuropsychological tests. Mood and personality traits were assessed using rating scales, including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the 90-item Symptom Check List (SCL-90). RESULTS: At baseline, patients complaining of memory disturbances had higher BDI and HDRS scores than patients not complaining of memory problems. They also did less well in objective memory performances but not in other cognitive functions. Complaints of memory problems decreased during the follow-up. This change was associated with mood improvement and with reductions in other mental symptoms but not with changes in cognitive performance. In logistic regression analysis factors independently associated with MCQ change were age (OR 0.96) and BDI change (OR 1.06). CONCLUSIONS: Subjective memory problems usually decline if depression is alleviated.
Assuntos
Afeto/efeitos dos fármacos , Antidepressivos/uso terapêutico , Transtorno Depressivo/diagnóstico , Rememoração Mental/efeitos dos fármacos , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Adulto , Transtorno Depressivo/tratamento farmacológico , Transtorno Depressivo/psicologia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Resultado do Tratamento , Escalas de WechslerRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with alexithymia in patients (n=153) with coronary heart disease (CHD) verified by coronary angiography. METHOD: Self-rated depression was assessed using 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and other psychiatric symptoms with Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90). Life satisfaction was assessed using a separate scale. The Structured Clinical Interview (SCID I and II) for DSM-III-R was used to identify mental disorders. Assessments took place 1 day before angiography. RESULTS: Twenty-one percent of CHD patients (n=32) were assessed as being alexithymic according to the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Alexithymics were more often blue-collar workers, incapable of working, dissatisfied with life, and depressed than the other CHD patients. Occurrences of mental disorders were not associated with alexithymia. Logistic regression analysis revealed that factors independently associated with alexithymia were currently or previously being a blue-collar worker (adjusted odds ratio, AOR: 4.8), self-rated depression (AOR: 3.2), and dissatisfaction with life (AOR: 2.9). CONCLUSION: In CHD patients alexithymia was unrelated to cardiovascular risk factors or exercise capacity but was related to self-rated depression and decreased life satisfaction. Alexithymia is associated with the enhanced psychosocial burden of suffering CHD. This patient group may need more individual support and attention than other CHD patients.
Assuntos
Sintomas Afetivos/etiologia , Doença das Coronárias/psicologia , Depressão/etiologia , Qualidade de Vida , Sintomas Afetivos/epidemiologia , Depressão/epidemiologia , Depressão/psicologia , Feminino , Finlândia/epidemiologia , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Prognóstico , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship of a self-rated four-item life satisfaction scale (LS) to the self-rated 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) and to study LS changes during recovery from depression. METHOD: A 1-year prospective study on 188 depressive patients receiving standard psychiatric outpatient treatment; 137 of the patients had major depression. RESULTS: LS correlated strongly with BDI and HAMD. It explained 46.6%) of the variation in BDI at baseline and 66.2% at 12 months. LS improved substantially during recovery. The main recovery occurred during the first 6 months, the change in the LS score explaining 46.5% of the change in the BDI score (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Life satisfaction is strongly affected in depression, but it improves concurrently with recovery from depression. LS scale may prove useful in screening for those whose subjective wellbeing deserves attention and in assessing alleviation from depression.
Assuntos
Depressão/psicologia , Pacientes Ambulatoriais/psicologia , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Adulto , Depressão/terapia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Programas de Rastreamento/métodos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Estudos Prospectivos , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Inquéritos e Questionários , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether depression was associated with cardiac status and socio-demographic factors in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: The sample consisted of 144 symptomatic patients with CHD. For screening depression the Beck Depression Inventory was administered on the day before elective coronary angiography. RESULTS: Twenty-four per cent of patients had probable depressive disorder, but none of them had been previously identified as suffering from depression, or been treated for depression. Alexithymia and dissatisfaction with life were common in depressed patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that neither the cardiac status nor sociodemographic factors were associated with depression. CONCLUSION: Depression is a common finding and should be looked for independently of other risk factors in patients with CHD.
Assuntos
Doença das Coronárias/complicações , Depressão/complicações , Fatores Etários , Doença das Coronárias/psicologia , Depressão/epidemiologia , Depressão/psicologia , Feminino , Finlândia/epidemiologia , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: A six-month follow-up study was conducted to determine whether alexithymia is a permanent feature in 169 depressed outpatients. METHODS: Diagnosis of depression was confirmed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID-I). Alexithymia was screened using the 20-item version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and severity of depression was assessed using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: Almost 40% of the patients were considered alexithymic at baseline, but only 23% at follow-up. Alexithymic patients were more often moderately or severely depressed than other patients in both study phases. The BDI scores explained 23% (at baseline) and 42% (at follow-up) of the variation in TAS-20 scores. The decrease in the TAS-20 scores was associated with a concurrent decrease in BDI scores. CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymic patients with depressive disorders do not appear to form a stable group. On the contrary, alexithymia seems to change as a function of depression. In the light of these results, alexithymia appears not to be a stable personality trait among depressed patients, and furthermore, it seems possible that alexithymic features respond to psychiatric treatment.