Psychiatry research
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Psychiatry research · Jan 2009
Clinical TrialEffect of aripiprazole on self-reported anhedonia in bipolar depressed patients.
Some studies have suggested that aripiprazole might be a useful treatment for bipolar depression. There are no studies evaluating the effect of aripiprazole on anhedonia. In the present study, effects of aripiprazole were investigated under routine clinical conditions. ⋯ All patients completed the 16-week trial. Only 16% of patients experienced side effects (akathisia, headache). Future studies should investigate the specificity of anti-anhedonic and anti-depressant properties of aripiprazole in bipolar patients.
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Psychiatry research · Jan 2009
Alexithymia, temperament and character as predictors of psychopathology in patients with major depression.
The study investigated the capacity of alexithymic personality features, in combination with temperament and character traits, age and gender, to predict psychopathological symptoms in patients with major depression. Consecutive patients (n=339) were investigated using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), and the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales (HDRS, HARS). The amount of variance in SCL-90-R subscales and Hamilton scales predicted by TAS-20, TCI, age and gender was calculated by linear regression analyses. ⋯ In conclusion, many psychopathological symptoms in major depression are associated with difficulties in the identification of emotions. Relative to alexithymia, Cloninger's psychobiological model of personality could predict psychopathological symptoms in a distinct and meaningful manner. The TAS-20 and the TCI are useful questionnaires for a better understanding of the relationship between psychopathology and personality in major depression.