Year: 1999 Source: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, v.68, no.5, (1999), p.276-280 SIEC No: 19990758

20 suicidal depressed inpatients were compared to 20 nonsuicidal depressed inpatients & 20 healthy controls for alexithymia, emotional range & affect intensity. Both the suicidal depressed & nonsuicidal depressed patients had a narrower range of emotions, a stronger affect intensity & a higher degree of alexithymia than did the healthy controls. The 3 affect components did not prove to be sensitive predictors of suicidal behavior. Hopelessness & depression severity were more reliable predictors.