The relationship of alexythymia with eating behaviors and emotion regulation in depressed adolescents

Aim: In our study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between alexithymia levels, eating behaviors, and difficulties in emotion regulation in adolescents aged 12-18 with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). We also compared sociodemographic characteristics, alexithymia levels, eating behaviors, and emotion regulation difficulties with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: In our study, 60 adolescents aged 12-18 diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and 60 healthy adolescents with similar sociodemographic characteristics and no history of chronic physical or psychiatric illnesses were included. All participants were administered the Sociodemographic Characteristics Questionnaire, the Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale – Revised (ÇADÖ-Y), the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: No significant differences were found between adolescents diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and the healthy control group in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, except for education level and the presence of a family psychiatric history. In the patient group, significantly higher scores were found compared to the healthy control group in the total score and all subscales of the Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale – Revised (ÇADÖ-Y), the total score and all subscales of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and the total score and all subscales of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). In the patient group, significantly higher scores were found on the Emotional Eating and Restrained Eating subscales of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), while no significant differences were found between the two groups on the External Eating subscale. A positive correlation was observed between the total alexithymia score and the total score and all subscales of the DERS, the total score and all subscales of the ÇADÖ-Y, and the Restrained Eating subscale of the DEBQ. Significant indirect and total effects of alexithymia level on depressive symptoms through difficulties in emotion regulation were also found. Conclusion: Although alexithymic symptoms are common in adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), they can negatively impact the severity of depressive symptoms and the clinical course of the illness. Assessing alexithymia levels in depressive adolescents and implementing appropriate interventions will also lead to significant improvements in the depressive clinical picture.