Prevalence of Alexithymia and its association with Geriatric Depression in a sample of elderly persons living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

TARTAGLINI, MF.; HERMIDA, P.D.; FELDBERG, C.; CARUSO, D.; SOMALE, V.; STEFANI, D.

Virtual

Congreso; Alzheimer´s Association International Virtual Conference; 2020

Alzheimer´s Association

Background: Alexithymia has been considered a personality trait characterized by difficulties identifying and describing feelings and an externally oriented thinking style. Furthermore has been descripted as a multidimensional concept sensitive at stressful enviroment. The ageing is a period characterized by physical, affective and economics loses and alexithymia seems to be a common feature of neurological disease.Objetive: To evaluate the prevalence of alexithymia and its possible association with geriatric depression in elderly people living in the community.Method: A simple retrospective, cross sectional, correlational study was conducted. A non-probability, purposive sampling strategy was used. The sample was comprised of 300 older adults over sixty years old, living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They were evaluated in individual interviews using the following measures: a socio-demographic questionnaire (ad hoc), Latin American Consensual Toronto Alexithymia Scale LAC TAS-20 and Geriatric Depression Scale (V-15). Measures of central tendency and of dispersion were obtained to describe alexithymia and the Pearson’s “r” correlation coefficient was used to measure the degree of association between alexithymia and geriatric depression. An error probability minor or equal to 0.05 was established. Data were analysed by SPSS statistical software version 21.0.Results: Mean age of elderly adults were 71.71 year old (+ 7.34 years) and 76,2% of the participants were women. The prevalence of alxithymia was 53.1% and the mean of total score was 45.41 (sd 17.55) and subscales scores were DIF 14.55 (sd + 7.3), DDF 11.40 (sd + 6.0), EOT 19.45 (sd + 7.3). Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation was found between the alexithymia and geriatric depression (“r”: .369, p: .000). Conclusion: Detecting alexithymia could be relevant for preserve the wellbeing of elderly people as well diagnosis of affective disorders and neurological disease.