• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2007

Objectives : The objective of the present study was to investigate alexithymia in major depressive disorder(MDD) and subclinical depression(SCD). Methods : Three hundred eighty-six community-dwelling adults(238 females and 148 males, age 19-79; mean age $43.0{\pm}13.9$) were recruited. Structured clinical Interview for DSM-IV(SCID) was conducted for the diagnosis of MDD or other Axis I psychiatric disorders. The Center for Epidemiological Studies for Depression Scale(CES-D) and the Totonto Alexithymia Scale(TAS) were administered to assess depressive symptom and alexithymia, respectively. Among subjects without MDD, those who had minor depressive disorder on the SCID or high scores(i.e. over 16) on the CES-D were defined as subjects with SCD. TAS total score and factor I, II, III scores of TAS in MDD, SCD, and non-depressive controls were compared. Results : Among 386 subjects, 38 subjects(9.8%) were diagnosed as MDD by DSM-IV criteria, while 57 subjects(14.8%) were classified into SCD group. There were significant differences between 3 groups(MDD, SCD and non-depressive controls) in total score($F_{2,383}=14.0$, p<0.01), factor I(difficulty in identifying feeling)($F_{2,383}=23.4$, p<0.01) and factor II(difficulty in describing feeling)($F_{2,383}=7.8$, p<0.01), but not factor III(external oriented thinking)($F_{2,383}=1.8$, p=0.16) of TAS. In post-hoc analysis, both MDD subjects and SCD subjects had higher scores in TAS total, factor I and factor II, compared to non-depressive controls(all p<0.01). In contrast, there were no significant differences between MDD subjects and SCD subjects in any TAS factor. Conclusion : In this study, both MDD subjects and SCD subjects were more alexithymic than non-depressive control subjects. These findings suggest that SCD, as well as MDD, is also related to alexithymia.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 1996

The purpose of the present study was to investigate empirically the relationship among self-image, depression, anxiety, and social sensitivity in adolescents. 1602 normal adolescents(697 males and 905 females) responded to self report scales-Offer Self-Image Questionnaire-Revised, 3 subscales of Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and LISREL to examine the effect of self-image on depression, anxiety, and social sensitivity, and to test the relationship among the above 4 variables. Adolescents with low self-image showed significantly higher scores in the scales of depression, anxiety, and social sensitivity than did adolescents with high self-image. The result of LISREL showed that the low self-image leads to the emotional state of depression and anxiety, and those of depression and anxiety lead to the increase of social sensitivity, suggesting that self-image has a direct effect on depression and anxiety, and has a direct effect on social sensitivity in adolescent. These results were discussed in terms of implications for the prevention and treatment of adolescent social phobia.