Does psychotherapy improve alexithymia? A comparison study among patients with mild or moderate depression
Arch. Clin. Psychiatry (Impr.)
; Arch. Clin. Psychiatry (Impr.);46(6): 156-164, Nov.-Dec. 2019. tab, graf
Article
in En
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-1054918
Responsible library:
BR66.1
ABSTRACT
Abstract Background Alexithymia is reported to be a risk factor for depression. Psychotherapy is efficient for treatment of depression. Yet, the effect of psychotherapies on alexithymia is poorly understood. Objectives We aimed to compare Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Psychotherapy (ExP) and Supportive Counseling (SUP) for therapeutic efficacy and effect on alexithymia in depression. Methods There were 22 patients for each patient group. Sessions were performed as eight consecutive weekly and following two monthly boosters. Sixty six healthy controls were added. Prior to the sessions, patients received Sociodemographic Data Form, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-1), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The control group received Sociodemographic Data Form, SCID-1 and TAS-20. Patients additionally received HDRS and TAS-20 after their weekly and booster sessions. Results Patients' mean TAS-20 score was greater than of controls, however, it did not have a significant change throughout the study. Mean HDRS scores of ExP and CBT groups were lower than SUP group at the end. Discussion Alexithymia did not improve with psychotherapy. The exception was effect of ExP on externally oriented thinking. Psychotherapies all improved depression. CBT and ExP were more helpful than SUP.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Psychotherapy
/
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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Counseling
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Affective Symptoms
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Depression
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
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Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
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Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Arch. Clin. Psychiatry (Impr.)
Journal subject:
PSIQUIATRIA
Year:
2019
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Turkey
Country of publication:
Brazil