Relationship between treatment of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and alexithymia in patients with major depressive disorder

This study aimed to put forward the relationship between treatment of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and alexithymia in patients with Major Depressive Disorder, prospectively. We included randomized 60 volunteers referred to Psychiatry outpatient clinic of Akdeniz University Hospital, between ages 18-65, diagnosed with major depressive disorder and they were initiated SSRI treatment first-time and they were responded to SSRI treatment. Cases were investigated by SCID-I affective episode module diagnosis and exclusion criterion. Sociodemographic data sheet, hamilton depression scale, beck depression inventory, positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) were applied. Patients were evaluated again after 8 weeks. We found that 60% patients are alexithymic. There was no relationship between sociodemographic datas and alexithymia. Alexythimic patients had significantly higher scores than non-alexythymics in beck depression and hamilton depression scales. Alexithymics had higher aggression levels. We found 66.7% patients are alexithymic after 8 weeks and there is not a significant difference between with first assessment. We found significant improvement in positive and negative emotion levels. The changes of positive emotions levels average was 5,5 and negative emotions levels average was 16,5 have been found in between first and second assessment, respectively. Negative emotions improvement was higher than positive emotion, significantly. There was significant reduction in aggression scores. As a result of SSRI treatment apathetic responses averages have been found in this study were similar to the literature data. we concluded that SSRI treatment could contribute to alexithymia in these patients. Key words: Antidepressant treatment, Alexithymia, Major Depressive Disorder.