General Hospital Psychiatry
Volume 30, Issue 1 , Pages 77-79 , January 2008

The performance of diagnostic measures of depression in alexithymic and nonalexithymic subjects

  • Aino K. Mattila, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, FIN-33014 Tampere, Finland
    • Department of Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, PO Box 2000, FIN-33521 Tampere, Finland
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, FIN-33014 Tampere, Finland. Tel.: +358 3 3551 6002, +358 50 343 9168 (mobile); fax: +358 3 3551 6057.
    • ,
  • Outi Poutanen, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, PO Box 2000, FIN-33521 Tampere, Finland
    • Medical School, University of Tampere, FIN-33014 Tampere, Finland
    • ,
  • Anna-Maija Koivisto, M.Sc.

      Affiliations

    • Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, FIN-33014 Tampere, Finland
    • ,
  • Raimo K.R. Salokangas, M.D., Ph.D., M.A.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
    • Psychiatric Clinic, Turku University Central Hospital, PO Box 52, FIN-20521 Turku, Finland
    • Turku Psychiatric Clinic, PO Box 1, FIN-20701 Turku, Finland
    • ,
  • Matti Joukamaa, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, FIN-33014 Tampere, Finland
    • Department of Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, PO Box 2000, FIN-33521 Tampere, Finland

Received 6 July 2007 ,Accepted 21 August 2007.

References 

  1. Sifneos PE. The prevalence of alexithymic characteristics in psychosomatic patients. Psychother Psychosom. 1973;22:255–262
  2. Taylor GJ, Bagby RM. New trends in alexithymia research. Psychother Psychosom. 2004;73:68–77
  3. Hintikka J, Honkalampi K, Lehtonen J, Viinamäki H. Are alexithymia and depression distinct or overlapping constructs? A study in a general population. Compr Psychiatry. 2001;42:234–239
  4. Salokangas RKR, Poutanen O, Stengård E, Jähi R, Palo-oja T. Prevalence of depression among patients seen in community health centers and community mental health centers. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1996;93:171–180
  5. Poutanen O, Mattila A, Seppälä NH, Groth L, Koivisto A-M, Salokangas RKR. Seven-year outcome of depression in primary and psychiatric outpatient care: results of the Tampere Depression (TADEP) II study. Nord J Psychiatry. 2007;61:62–70
  6. Joukamaa M, Miettunen J, Kokkonen P, et al. Psychometric properties of the Finnish 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Nord J Psychiatry. 2001;55:123–127
  7. Bagby RM, Taylor GJ. Construct validation. In:  Taylor GJ,  Bagby RM,  Parker JDA editor. Disorders of affect regulation: alexithymia in medical and psychiatric illness. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1997;p. 46–66
  8. Salokangas RKR, Poutanen O, Stengård E. Screening for depression in primary care. Development and validation of the Depression Scale, a screening instrument for depression. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1995;92:10–16
  9. Poutanen O, Koivisto A-M, Joukamaa M, Mattila AK, Salokangas RKR. The Depression Scale as a screening instrument for a subsequent depressive episode in primary health care patients. Br J Psychiatry. 2007;191:50–54
  10. Isometsä E, Aro S, Aro H. Depression in Finland: a computer assisted telephone interview study. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1997;96:122–128
  11. Kessler RC, Andrews G, Mroczek D, Ustun B, Wittchen H-U. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short-Form (CIDI-SF). Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 1998;7:171–185
  12. Mattila AK, Salminen JK, Nummi T, Joukamaa M. Age is strongly associated with alexithymia in the general population. J Psychosom Res. 2006;61:629–635
  13. http://www.stata.com/stata9/.
  14. Luminet O, Bagby RM, Wagner H, Taylor GJ, Parker JD. Relation between alexithymia and the Five-Factor Model of Personality: a facet-level analysis. J Pers Assess. 1999;73:345–358
  15. Spitzer C, Siebel-Jurges U, Barnow S, Grabe HJ, Freyberger HJ. Alexithymia and interpersonal problems. Psychother Psychosom. 2005;74:240–246
  16. Rasting M, Brosig B, Beutel ME. Alexithymic characteristics and patient–therapist interaction: a video analysis of facial affect display. Psychopathology. 2005;38:105–111
  17. Rohde P, Lewinsohn PM, Seeley JR. Comparability of telephone and face-to-face interviews in assessing Axis I and II disorders. Am J Psychiatry. 1997;154:1593–1598
  18. Lumley MA. Alexithymia and negative emotional conditions. J Psychosom Res. 2000;49:51–54

PII: S0163-8343(07)00177-6

doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2007.08.011

General Hospital Psychiatry
Volume 30, Issue 1 , Pages 77-79 , January 2008

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