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Chester MA, Viranda T, Kaye WH, Berner LA. Evaluating the predictions of an interoceptive inference model of bulimia nervosa. J Eat Disord 2024; 12:57. [PMID: 38741168 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-024-01010-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Bulimia nervosa (BN) is associated with loss-of-control (LOC) eating episodes that frequently occur in response to negative emotions. According to recent neurocomputational models, this link could be explained by a failure to accurately update beliefs about the body in states of high arousal. Specifically, these interoceptive inference models suggest that under-relying on signals from one's body about sensory experience ("low sensory precision") and/or over-relying on previously held beliefs ("excessively precise priors") lead to inaccurate perception and maladaptive behaviors. We conducted an initial test of these core predictions of the interoceptive inference model in BN using self-report measures. METHODS We compared women with BN (n = 30) and age-, BMI-, and full-scale IQ-matched controls (n = 31) on trust in sensory information from the body and two types of beliefs about what can be done to regulate high negative affect. Within the BN group, we tested interrelations among these measures and explored their associations with LOC eating frequency. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, the BN group reported lower levels of trust in sensory information and stronger beliefs that once upset, there is little one can do, apart from eating, to self-regulate. These beliefs were associated with each other and with lower body trust. Beliefs about the uncontrollability of emotion were associated with more frequent subjective binge-eating episodes. CONCLUSIONS Findings provide initial support for the core predictions of an interoceptive inference account of BN: low trust in sensory information ("sensory precision") may promote an overreliance on maladaptive "prior beliefs" about the effects of eating on negative emotions, ultimately interfering with accurate updating of beliefs about other strategies that could regulate emotions and maintain LOC eating. Low body trust, strong expectations about emotions, and their neurocomputational underpinnings could be promising combined treatment targets for BN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maia A Chester
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thalia Viranda
- Department of Information Science, Cornell Tech, New York, NY, USA
| | - Walter H Kaye
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Laura A Berner
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Simoncini G, Borghesi F, Mancuso V, Pedroli E, Cipresso P. Assessing alexithymia: the proposal of a psychometric tool based on spheric videos. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1375342. [PMID: 38562229 PMCID: PMC10982385 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1375342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The present perspective introduces a novel psychometric tool designed to enhance the evaluation of alexithymia. Alexithymia, a condition marked by difficulties in recognizing and expressing emotions, along with a propensity to direct attention outside rather than toward one's own interior experiences, is commonly investigated through self-report questionnaires. These instruments assume that individuals have sufficient self-awareness and abstraction capabilities, which restricts the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of emotional recognition in individuals who do not possess these capacities. To address this lack, emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR) and 360° videos facilitate the recreation of immersive contexts, enabling subjects to engage with scenarios even remotely. Our innovative tool employs spherical video technology to recreate social and non-social scenarios that elicit emotions. Psychophysiological measures are collected during video observation; then, questions are asked to investigate how the subject consciously processes the emotions they experienced. This multimodal approach aims to capture both implicit and explicit emotion processing, providing a comprehensive assessment. Overall, the proposed psychometric tool offers the potential for a more nuanced understanding of alexithymic traits and their real-life impact, empowering clinicians to tailor treatment processes to individual needs based on a richer set of information.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Elisa Pedroli
- Faculty of Psychology, eCampus University, Novedrate, Italy
- Department of Geriatrics and Cardiovascular Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
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3
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Bullock AJ, Goldbacher EM. Interoceptive awareness and emotional eating in college women: the role of appetite and emotional awareness. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2023; 71:2445-2450. [PMID: 34469250 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1970566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Emotional eating is prevalent among college women. Deficits in interoceptive awareness, or the ability to perceive and identify internal sensations, are associated with emotional eating. Separately examining the specific components of interoceptive awareness, appetite and emotional awareness, in relation to emotional eating may improve prevention and treatment of emotional eating in college women.Participants: 143 women at an urban Northeastern university.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using self-report measures of interoceptive awareness, appetite and emotional awareness, emotional eating, and depression. Simultaneous regression analyses examined the independent association of appetite and emotional awareness with emotional eating, controlling for depression.Results: Consistent with hypotheses, lower interoceptive awareness was associated with higher emotional eating. Appetite and emotional awareness, were each uniquely associated with emotional eating independent of depression, even when entered simultaneously.Conclusions: Future prevention and treatment of emotional eating in college women should target improvements in appetite and emotional awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia J Bullock
- Department of Behavioral Medicine, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey, USA
| | - Edie M Goldbacher
- Department of Psychology, La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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4
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Cecchetto C, Dal Bò E, Aiello M, Fischmeister FPS, Gentili C, Osimo SA. Alexithymia modulates the attitudes towards odors but not the olfactory abilities or the affective reactions to odors. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0278496. [PMID: 37279254 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although emotion and olfaction are closely linked, only a few studies have investigated olfactory processing in alexithymia, a condition characterized by altered emotional processing. These results do not allow comprehensive conclusions on whether individuals with alexithymia present lower olfactory abilities or only altered affective reactions and awareness of odors. Three pre-registered experiments were conducted to clarify this relation. We assessed olfactory functions, the affective qualities of odors, the awareness of odors, the attitudes towards them, and the ability to form olfactory images in the mind. Bayesian statistics were used to assess differences between low, medium and high alexithymia groups, and Linear Mixed Models (LMMs) were applied to investigate the modulation of the affective and cognitive components of alexithymia. We observed that individuals with a high level of alexithymia presented the same olfactory abilities, and did not show differences in their rating of odors compared to individuals with low alexithymia levels, while they reported lower levels of social and common odor awareness and a more indifferent attitude towards odors. Olfactory imagery was not affected by alexithymia level, and the affective and cognitive components of alexithymia, when considered separately, modulated olfactory perception differently. Learning more about olfactory perception in individuals with alexithymia leads to a better understanding of how alexithymia impacts the perception of hedonic stimuli coming from different sensory modalities. Our results imply that treatment goals for alexithymia should be the enhancement of the conscious perception of odors, supporting the use of mindfulness-based protocols in the alexithymia treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Cecchetto
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Elisa Dal Bò
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Marilena Aiello
- Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Florian Ph S Fischmeister
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Claudio Gentili
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Sofia Adelaide Osimo
- Department of Psychology, MibTec, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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5
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Baradel G, Provenzi L, Chiappedi M, Orlandi M, Vecchio A, Borgatti R, Mensi MM. The Family Caregiving Environment Associates with Adolescent Patients' Severity of Eating Disorder and Interpersonal Problems: A Cross-Sectional Study. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:children10020237. [PMID: 36832366 PMCID: PMC9955592 DOI: 10.3390/children10020237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The quality of family interactions may be a critical factor for restrictive eating disorders (REDs). Adolescent patients with RED have interpersonal problems that can be inferred by observing their behaviours during family interactions. To date, the assessment of the association among RED severity, interpersonal problems, and patients' interactive behaviours in the family is partially explored. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore how adolescent patients' interactive behaviours observed during the Lausanne Trilogue Play-clinical version (LTPc) were associated with both RED severity and interpersonal problems. Sixty adolescent patients completed the EDI-3 questionnaire to assess RED severity using the Eating Disorder Risk Composite (EDRC) and Interpersonal Problems Composite (IPC) subscales. Moreover, patients and their parents took part in the LTPc, and patients' interactive behaviours were coded as participation, organization, focal attention, and affective contact in all the LTPc four phases. A significant association emerged between patients' interactive behaviours during the LTPc triadic phase and both EDRC and IPC. Better patients' organization and affective contact significantly correlated with lower RED severity and fewer interpersonal problems. These findings suggest that investigating the quality of family relationships and patients' interactive behaviours may contribute to better identifying adolescent patients at risk for more severe conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Baradel
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Matteo Chiappedi
- Vigevano Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, ASST Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Marika Orlandi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Arianna Vecchio
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Renato Borgatti
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Martina Maria Mensi
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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McAtamney K, Mantzios M, Egan H, Wallis DJ. A systematic review of the relationship between alexithymia and emotional eating in adults. Appetite 2023; 180:106279. [PMID: 36087827 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Elucidating psychological characteristics associated with emotional eating may further inform interventions for this behaviour related to eating psychopathology. The present systematic review aimed to examine the relationship between alexithymia and self-reported emotional eating in adults, and provide a narrative synthesis of the existing literature. Using the PRISMA method for systematic reviews, six databases (MEDLINE, PsycInfo, PsycArticles, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science) were searched for peer-reviewed, quantitative research published between January 1994 and 20th July 2021, when the searches were conducted. Eligible articles investigated the association between alexithymia, as measured by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (Bagby, Parker, & Taylor, 1994), and emotional eating, as measured by any validated self-report instrument. Nine cross-sectional articles were reviewed, and risk of bias was assessed using the Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (Downes, Brennan, Williams, & Dean, 2016). A narrative synthesis of articles suggests positive associations between alexithymia and self-reported emotional eating. Five measures of emotional eating were used across articles, with limited but consistent evidence for the relationship between alexithymia and emotional eating as measured by the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (Van strien et al., 1986). Further research is required to add evidence to the nature of the relationship between alexithymia and emotional eating, and to explore mechanisms that might underpin any relationships. Understanding the association between alexithymia and emotional eating may support strategies and interventions for those seeking help for emotional eating and related eating behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine McAtamney
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Birmingham City University, Cardigan Street, Birmingham, B4 7DB, United Kingdom.
| | - Michail Mantzios
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Birmingham City University, Cardigan Street, Birmingham, B4 7DB, United Kingdom.
| | - Helen Egan
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Birmingham City University, Cardigan Street, Birmingham, B4 7DB, United Kingdom.
| | - Deborah J Wallis
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Birmingham City University, Cardigan Street, Birmingham, B4 7DB, United Kingdom.
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7
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Petersson S, Årestedt K, Birgegård A. Evaluation of the Affect School as supplementary treatment of Swedish women with eating disorders: a randomized clinical trial. J Eat Disord 2022; 10:76. [PMID: 35637512 PMCID: PMC9153112 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00596-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite solid research there remains a large group of patients with eating disorders who do not recover. Emotion dysregulation has been shown to be a feature in the different eating disorders. A manualized group intervention developed in Sweden, the Affect School, aims to enhance emotional awareness and the ability to perceive and express emotions. AIM This study aimed to test the hypothesis that participation in the Affect School as a complement to ordinary eating disorder treatment would enhance awareness and regulation of emotions and reduce alexithymia and cognitive eating disorder symptoms in a sample of patients with eating disorders at a Swedish specialized outpatient clinic. METHOD Forty patients with various eating disorders were randomized to either participation in the Affect School as a supplement to treatment as usual (TAU), or to a TAU control group. Participants were assessed with the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, the Deficits in Emotion Regulation Scale-36, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 at start, end of intervention, and at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups. RESULTS No significant differences were observed post-treatment but Affect School participants had improved significantly more than controls on eating disorder cognitions and behaviours and emotion dysregulation at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups and had significantly less alexithymia at the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION Difficulties with emotion recognition and/or regulation can complicate fulfilment of personal needs and obstruct communication and relationships with others. The present study indicates that adding Affect School group sessions to regular treatment enhances emotional awareness and emotion regulation and decreases eating disorder symptoms and alexithymia. Patients with eating disorder diagnoses have described problems with emotional management, for example: lower emotional awareness and difficulties in using adaptive emotional regulatory strategies compared to people without eating disorders. It has been suggested that interventions aiming at enhancing emotional awareness and acceptance would be beneficial in treatment. In the present study we explored whether adding the Affect School to regular treatment would enhance awareness and regulation of emotions and decrease eating disorder symptoms. Forty women with an eating disorder were randomly allocated to either an additional participation in a group treatment for 8 weeks or usual treatment only. The treatment contained education on different affects such as joy, fear, interest, shame, anger, disgust, and worry. The education was followed by discussions on own experiences. Participants filled in self-assessment forms that measured eating disorder symptoms, emotional recognition, and emotion regulation before the start and at the end of the group treatment, and after 6 and 12 months respectively. The results when comparing the two groups suggested that the Affect School could be an effective additional treatment. Participants in the Affect School improved their scorings but the change took time and did not show until at the 6- and 12 months follow-ups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Petersson
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
- Department of Rehabilitation, Kalmar Regional Council, Hus 13, plan 7, Länssjukhuset, 391 85, Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - Kristofer Årestedt
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
- Department of Research, Region Kalmar County, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Andreas Birgegård
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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8
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Rimehaug T, Kårstad SB. Communication and Emotional Vocabulary; Relevance for Mental Health Among School-Age Youths. Front Psychol 2022; 13:847412. [PMID: 35548496 PMCID: PMC9083540 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.847412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The association between language and mental health may be connected to several aspects of language. Based on the known associations, emotional vocabulary could be an important contribution to mental health and act as a risk, protective or resilience factor for mental health in general. As a preliminary test of this hypothesis, an assessment of emotional vocabulary was constructed and used among youths in school age. Cross-sectional associations and prediction models with parent-reported youth mental health as outcome were examined for emotional vocabulary as well as general vocabulary, non-verbal problem solving and social communication, controlled for age, gender and subsamples. Results Emotional vocabulary, general vocabulary and non-verbal problem solving were directly associated with each other and similarly associated with age and gender. However, they were not significantly associated with social communication skills or mental health in the expected direction. Only social communication skills showed significant negative associations with behavioral mental health problems, suggesting these skills to be potential resources related to mental health. Implication Future research should investigate whether behavioral problems may be prevented or improved by developing better social communication skills among community school-age youths. However, our results suggest that merely expanding emotional vocabulary is not likely to produce such effects unless this is integrated with improving social communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tormod Rimehaug
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare (RKBU Central Norway), Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Levanger, Norway
| | - Silja Berg Kårstad
- Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare (RKBU Central Norway), Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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9
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Morie KP, Crowley MJ, Mayes LC, Potenza MN. The process of emotion identification: Considerations for psychiatric disorders. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 148:264-274. [PMID: 35151218 PMCID: PMC8969204 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.01.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Emotional regulation is important for mental health and behavioral regulation. A relevant precursor to emotional regulation may involve identification of one's emotions. Here, we propose a model of seven components that may provide a foundation for emotion identification. These factors include baseline mood, monitoring, physiological responses, interoception, past personal experiences regarding emotions/metacognition, context, and labeling. We additionally examine how deficits in different components may contribute to the concept of alexithymia, which is defined by difficulty identifying and describing one's own emotions. Ultimately, we explore how the model may support a relationship between specific psychiatric disorders and alexithymia. The proposed model may help explain emotional identification impairment in multiple psychiatric disorders and guide future research and treatment development efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen P Morie
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA; Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - Michael J Crowley
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA; Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Linda C Mayes
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA; Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Marc N Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA; Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA; Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, 06109, USA; Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
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10
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Pellegrini RA, Finzi S, Veglia F, Di Fini G. Narrative and Bodily Identity in Eating Disorders: Toward an Integrated Theoretical-Clinical Approach. Front Psychol 2021; 12:785004. [PMID: 34975677 PMCID: PMC8714898 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.785004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Eating disorders (EDs) can be viewed as “embodied acts” that help to cope with internal and external demands that are perceived as overwhelming. The maintenance of EDs affects the entire identity of the person; the lack of a defined; or valid sense of self is expressed in terms of both physical body and personal identity. According to attachment theory, primary relationships characterized by insecurity, traumatic experiences, poor mirroring, and emotional attunement lead to the development of dysfunctional regulatory strategies. Although the literature shows an association between attachment style or states of mind, trauma, behavioral strategies, and various EDs, the debate is still ongoing and the results are still conflicting. Therefore, we believe it is important to examine and treat EDs by understanding which narrative trajectory intercepts distress in relation to narrative and embodied self-concept. Drawing on clinical observation and a narrative review of the literature, we focus on the construction and organization of bodily and narrative identity. Because bodily representations are the primary tools for generating meaning, organizing experience, and shaping social identity from the earliest stages of life, we focus on the role that bodily interactions and sensorimotor and proprioceptive patterns have played in the development of EDs. We consider the role that lack of attunement, insecure attachment, and relational trauma play in mentalizing, affecting self-representation and emotion regulation strategies. The paper also considers a semantic mode of trauma in EDs that involves a top-down pathway through beliefs and narratives about oneself based on lack of amiability, on devaluation, and on humiliation memories. Finally, we would like to highlight the proposal of an integrated model with multiple access model to psychotherapy that takes into account the complexity of ED patients in whom aspects related to dysregulation, body image disintegration, and post-traumatic symptoms are associated with a suffering sense of self and a retraumatizing narrative.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Finzi
- Centro Clinico Crocetta, Scuola di Specializzazione in Psicoterapia Cognitiva, Turin, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- *Correspondence: Sarah Finzi,
| | - Fabio Veglia
- Centro Clinico Crocetta, Scuola di Specializzazione in Psicoterapia Cognitiva, Turin, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giulia Di Fini
- Centro Clinico Crocetta, Scuola di Specializzazione in Psicoterapia Cognitiva, Turin, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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11
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Food olfactory cues reactivity in individuals with obesity and the contribution of alexithymia. Appetite 2021; 169:105827. [PMID: 34843753 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Obesity has been associated with increased reward sensitivity to food stimuli, but a few studies have addressed this issue by using odors. This study investigated whether obesity is associated with increased liking and wanting of food odors and whether alexithymia, a psychological construct characterized by diminished affective abilities, contributes to altered responsiveness to food. Liking and wanting for food and pleasant non-food odors were measured through explicit (self-report ratings) and implicit measures (heart rate and skin conductance) in 23 women with healthy weight (HW) and 20 women with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). Differently from the HW group, the OW/OB group explicitly liked food odors less than non-food odors; but, at the implicit level, there were no differences in heart rate response for both types of odors, indicating that they were equally liked. Moreover, at variance with the HW group, the OW/OB group did not exhibit increased skin conductance response for food compared to nonfood odors. Alexithymia was associated with increased implicit liking and explicit wanting of food odors, in particular in the HW group. These findings show that obesity is characterized by high levels of implicit food liking and low levels of implicit food wanting. Moreover, both affective and motivational responses to food reward seem to be affected by alexithymia, which should be taken into account by studies evaluating the effect of cue exposure intervention for obesity treatment.
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12
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Taylor GJ, Bagby RM. Examining Proposed Changes to the Conceptualization of the Alexithymia Construct: The Way Forward Tilts to the Past. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS 2021; 90:145-155. [PMID: 33285546 DOI: 10.1159/000511988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Graeme J Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
| | - R Michael Bagby
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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13
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Rogoff S, Moulton-Perkins A, Warren F, Nolte T, Fonagy P. 'Rich' and 'poor' in mentalizing: Do expert mentalizers exist? PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259030. [PMID: 34695171 PMCID: PMC8544847 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mentalization theory is concerned with the capacity to notice, and make sense of, thoughts and feelings in self and others. This development may be healthy or impaired and therefore, by extension, it may be theorized that expertise in mentalizing can exist. Furthermore, a continuum from impairment to expertise should exist within separate dimensions of mentalizing: of self and of others. This study hypothesized that three groups would be distinguishable on the basis of their mentalizing capacities. In a cross-sectional design, Psychological Therapists (‘expert’ mentalizers; n = 51), individuals with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (‘poor’ mentalizers; n = 43) and members of the general population (‘non-clinical controls’; n = 35) completed a battery of self-report measures. These assessed the mentalizing of self and of others (using an extended version of the Reflective Function Questionnaire (RFQ18)), alexithymia and cognitive empathy. As hypothesized, Psychological Therapists’ scores were higher than controls on self-mentalizing and control group scores were higher than those with BPD. Cognitive empathy scores in the BPD group indicated markedly lower capacities than the other two groups. Contrary to predictions, no significant differences were found between groups on mentalizing others in RFQ18 scores. The Psychological Therapist and BPD profiles were characterized by differential impairment with regards to mentalizing self and others but in opposing directions. Results suggest that the RFQ18 can identify groups with expertise in mentalizing. Implications of these results for the effectiveness of psychological therapy and of Psychological Therapists are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Rogoff
- Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Fiona Warren
- Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Tobias Nolte
- Anna Freud National Centre for Children & Families, London, United Kingdom
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Fonagy
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL, London, United Kingdom
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14
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Cascino G, Monteleone AM, Marciello F, Pellegrino F, Ruzzi V, Monteleone P. Alexithymia and cortisol awakening response in people with eating disorders. World J Biol Psychiatry 2021; 22:546-551. [PMID: 33135561 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2020.1844291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Alexithymia, which is the inability to recognise and describe one's own emotions, is a transdiagnostic feature across eating disorders (EDs) and it has been associated with prolonged stress exposure. Therefore, we evaluated whether alexithymia was associated with hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning, the main endogenous stress response system, in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN). METHODS 26 women with AN and 26 with BN participated in the study. Alexithymia was evaluated by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and eating-related psychopathology was measured by the Eating Disorder Inventory-2. The activity of the HPA axis was assessed by measuring the salivary cortisol awakening response (CAR). RESULTS The prevalence of alexithymia did not differ significantly between the two diagnostic groups. Alexithymia was associated with more severe eating-related psychopathology in AN women but not in BN women. A significant reduction in the magnitude of CAR occurred in alexithymic patients with BN compared to non-alexithymic patients, but not in alexithymic women with AN. CONCLUSIONS These results confirm the presence of a more severe specific psychopathology in alexithymic individuals with AN and show, for the first time, an association between alexithymia and a dampened basal activity of the HPA axis in BN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giammarco Cascino
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", Section of Neurosciences, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Marciello
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", Section of Neurosciences, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Francesca Pellegrino
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Ruzzi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Palmiero Monteleone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", Section of Neurosciences, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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15
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Meneguzzo P, Garolla A, Bonello E, Todisco P. Alexithymia, dissociation and emotional regulation in eating disorders: Evidence of improvement through specialized inpatient treatment. Clin Psychol Psychother 2021; 29:718-724. [PMID: 34432335 PMCID: PMC9291290 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The research into emotional regulation in eating disorders (EDs) has shown specific impairments and maladaptive coping strategies in patients, and there is an increasing interest in the role of the emotional domain in the treatment outcome. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a specialized inpatient treatment characterized by both an intensive and comprehensive standardized multidisciplinary programme based on cognitive–behavioural therapy and a flexible and personalized component implemented by third‐wave interventions. A cohort of 67 female ED patients (anorexia nervosa = 28, bulimia nervosa = 28 and binge eating disorder = 11) underwent an evaluation of emotional regulation difficulties, alexithymia and dissociative symptomatology at admission to a specialized ED ward. The psychological modifications were subsequently re‐evaluated upon discharge, after an inpatients treatment of 60 days, examining specific changes in the specific psychopathology. A significant improvement after specialized ED treatment was shown in alexithymia, emotional regulation difficulties and dissociation symptoms, with higher effect sizes in patients with higher alexithymia scores. As regards the specific effect of the psychological improvement, changes into alexithymia scores have shown specific correlations with ED psychopathology (p < 0.010) and with difficulties in emotional regulation (p < 0.010) in patients with higher alexithymia levels at admission. Emotional regulation and dissociation should therefore be evaluated in ED patients and may be improved with specific therapeutic approaches, while alexithymia remains a clinical trait, even with a significant reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Meneguzzo
- Eating Disorders Unit, Casa di Cura "Villa Margherita", Arcugnano, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alice Garolla
- Eating Disorders Unit, Casa di Cura "Villa Margherita", Arcugnano, Italy
| | - Elisa Bonello
- Eating Disorders Unit, Casa di Cura "Villa Margherita", Arcugnano, Italy
| | - Patrizia Todisco
- Eating Disorders Unit, Casa di Cura "Villa Margherita", Arcugnano, Italy
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16
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Veirman E, Van Ryckeghem DML, Verleysen G, De Paepe AL, Crombez G. What do alexithymia items measure? A discriminant content validity study of the Toronto-alexithymia-scale-20. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11639. [PMID: 34249500 PMCID: PMC8253111 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Questions have been raised about whether items of alexithymia scales assess the construct alexithymia and its key features, and no other related constructs. This study assessed the (discriminant) content validity of the most widely used alexithymia scale, i.e., the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Methods Participants (n = 81) rated to what extent TAS-20 items and items of related constructs were relevant for assessing the constructs ‘alexithymia’, ‘difficulty identifying feelings’, ‘difficulty describing feelings’, ‘externally-oriented thinking’, ‘limited imaginal capacity’, ‘anxiety’, ‘depression’, and ‘health anxiety’. Results Results revealed that, overall, the TAS-20 did only partly measure ‘alexithymia’. Only the subscales ‘difficulty identifying feelings’ and ‘difficulty describing feelings’ represented ‘alexithymia’ and their intended construct, although some content overlap between these subscales was found. In addition, some items assessed (health) anxiety equally well or even better. Conclusions Revision of the TAS-20 is recommended to adequately assess all key features of alexithymia. Findings with the TAS-20 need to be interpreted with caution in people suffering from medical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Veirman
- Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dimitri M L Van Ryckeghem
- Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.,Experimental Health Psychology, Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Gregory Verleysen
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,End-of-Life Care Research group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Annick L De Paepe
- Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Crombez
- Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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17
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Are Autistic and Alexithymic Traits Distinct? A Factor-Analytic and Network Approach. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:2019-2034. [PMID: 34060002 PMCID: PMC9021140 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05094-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Despite the heterogeneity in autism, socioemotional difficulties are often framed as universal. Increasing evidence, however, suggests that socioemotional difficulties may be explained by alexithymia, a distinct yet frequently co-occurring condition. If, as some propose, autistic traits are responsible for socioemotional impairments, then alexithymia may itself be a symptom of autism. We aimed to determine whether alexithymia should be considered a product of autism or regarded as a separate condition. Using factor-analytic and network approaches, we provide evidence that alexithymic and autistic traits are distinct. We argue that: (1) models of socioemotional processing in autism should conceptualise difficulties as intrinsic to alexithymia; and (2) assessment of alexithymia is crucial for diagnosis and personalised interventions.
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18
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Paul LK, Pazienza SR, Brown WS. Alexithymia and Somatization in Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2021; 16:1071-1078. [PMID: 33973635 PMCID: PMC8483281 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsab056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Deficient communication between the cerebral hemispheres is one of several prevailing neurobiological explanations for alexithymia and has been strongly supported by research on patients with commissurotomy. We examined self-reported symptoms of alexithymia in adults with agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC), a condition characterized by more subtle reductions in interhemispheric transfer than in commissurotomy. 16 adults with AgCC and FSIQ > 80 were compared with 15 age- and IQ-matched neurotypical controls. The AgCC group endorsed greater difficulty identifying and describing feelings and more vague physical symptoms than controls, but similar levels of emotional experience and emotional coping. This finding of impaired emotional interpretation with intact emotional experience is consistent with findings in callosotomy patients, implicating the critical role of the corpus callosum in cognitive dimensions of emotion processing. Further study of alexithymia in AgCC using task-based measures may help clarify the nature of this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn K Paul
- Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.,Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, Travis Research Institute, Pasadena, CA, USA.,International Research Consortium for the Corpus Callosum and Cerebral Connectivity (IRC5), Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - Warren S Brown
- Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, Travis Research Institute, Pasadena, CA, USA.,International Research Consortium for the Corpus Callosum and Cerebral Connectivity (IRC5), Pasadena, CA, USA
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19
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Increased emotional eating during COVID-19 associated with lockdown, psychological and social distress. Appetite 2021; 160:105122. [PMID: 33453336 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Due to the spread of COVID 2019, the Italian government imposed a lockdown on the national territory. Initially, citizens were required to stay at home and not to mix with others outside of their household (Phase 1); eventually, some of these restrictions were lifted (Phase 2). To investigate the impact of lockdown on emotional and binge eating, an online survey was conducted to compare measures of self-reported physical (BMI), psychological (Alexithymia), affective (anxiety, stress, and depression) and social (income, workload) state during Phase 1 and Phase 2. Data from 365 Italian residents showed that increased emotional eating was predicted by higher depression, anxiety, quality of personal relationships, and quality of life, while the increase of bingeing was predicted by higher stress. Moreover, we showed that higher alexithymia scores were associated by increased emotional eating and higher BMI scores were associated with both increased emotional eating and binge eating. Finally, we found that from Phase 1 to Phase 2 binge and emotional eating decreased. These data provide evidence of the negative effects of isolation and lockdown on emotional wellbeing, and, relatedly, on eating behaviour.
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20
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Casagrande M, Boncompagni I, Forte G, Guarino A, Favieri F. Emotion and overeating behavior: effects of alexithymia and emotional regulation on overweight and obesity. Eat Weight Disord 2020; 25:1333-1345. [PMID: 31473988 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-019-00767-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Obesity and overweight are significant risk factors for many serious diseases. Several studies have investigated the relationship between emotional regulation and overweight or obesity in people with eating disorders. Although a few studies have explored alexithymia in individuals with severe obesity without eating disorders, no attention has been paid to individuals with overweight and preclinical form of obesity. This study aims to assess whether overweight and obesity are related to emotional dysregulation and alexithymia. METHODS The study involved 111 undergraduate students who had not been diagnosed with an eating disorder. The sample was divided into two groups according to their body mass index (BMI): normal weight (N = 55) and overweight (N = 56). All of them completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2). RESULTS Results showed higher levels of alexithymia, and specifically higher difficulty in identifying feelings and an externally oriented thought, in participants with overweight. Multiple correlation analysis highlighted the positive relations between some EDI-2 subscales and both alexithymia and emotional regulation scores. Linear regressions revealed a significant relationship between body BMI and both alexithymia and emotional regulation strategies. CONCLUSIONS The condition of overweight/obesity seems to be associated with higher emotional dysregulation compared to normal weight condition. It is essential to study this relationship because it could represent a risk factor for the worsening of problems related to overeating and excessive body weight. These findings suggest that an integrated approach aimed at considering the promotion of emotional regulation could contribute to the effectiveness of a program designed to reduce overweight and obesity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III: case-control analytic study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Casagrande
- Dipartimento di Psicologia Dinamica e Clinica, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Via degli Apuli, 1, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Boncompagni
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Forte
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Guarino
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Favieri
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Roma "Sapienza", Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185, Rome, Italy
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21
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McDonald S, Wilson E, Wearne T, Darke L, Cassel A, Rosenberg H. The complex audio visual emotion assessment task (CAVEAT): development of a shorter version for clinical use. Disabil Rehabil 2020; 44:1498-1507. [PMID: 32787689 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1803425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The Complex Audio Visual Emotion Assessment Task (CAVEAT) is a measure of emotion recognition using dynamic, naturalistic videos to assess recognition of 22 different emotional states (11 positive, 11 negative). It has established construct validity and demonstrated sensitivity to emotion perception impairments in those with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Despite this, its lengthy administration has limited its use in clinical practice and rehabilitation. The current paper aimed to develop shortened versions of the CAVEAT and examine their psychometric properties. METHODS The CAVEAT-S A and CAVEAT-S B (22 items each) and the CAVEAT-S AB (44 items) were developed using the original data. Comparability, reliability, construct and predictive validity were examined in the original sample (Study 1: 32 people with TBI and 32 demographically matched control participants) and a replication sample (Study 2: 18 adults with TBI and 21 demographically matched controls). RESULTS All short forms produced comparable accuracy ratings to the full measure, as well as discriminating between people with or without a TBI. Shortened forms all correlated with other measures of emotion perception and social cognition and also predicted psychosocial outcomes in terms of self-reported interpersonal relationships. Internal reliability of the short forms was low relative to the longer forms, especially for the two very short measures. CONCLUSIONS The new shortened forms of the CAVEAT are promising tools that are sensitive and valid for assessing emotion perception in people with TBI for clinical purposes. Their application in other clinical disorders is yet to be examined.Implications for rehabilitationEmotion perception deficits are present in many clinical populations and an important target for rehabilitation.CAVEAT Short provides ecologically valid emotional stimuli. Such stimuli are important for assessing real world function and to set rehabilitation targets.By having parallel versions of CAVEAT, there is the opportunity to test pre and post intervention while minimising practice effects.Alternatively, one version of CAVEAT-S can be used for assessment, while the other is used for training purposes during remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Skye McDonald
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Emily Wilson
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Travis Wearne
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Lillian Darke
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Anneli Cassel
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hannah Rosenberg
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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22
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Simonsen CB, Jakobsen AG, Grøntved S, Kjaersdam Telléus G. The mentalization profile in patients with eating disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nord J Psychiatry 2020; 74:311-322. [PMID: 31910059 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2019.1707869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Context: Patients with eating disorders (EDs) may have a lower mentalization ability. To the best of our knowledge, no meta-analysis has so far addressed the multidimensional mentalization profile within these patients.Objective: To summarize the existing evidence of the mentalization profile and its association with EDs.Data sources: We searched for articles in PsychINFO, Embase and PubMed using the search terms mentalization, reflective function, adult attachment interview, alexithymia, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, eye test, Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, Theory of Mind, mind-mindedness, mind-blindness, facial expression recognition, metacognition, ED, anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN).Studies included: Quantitative studies including diagnosed patients with an ED, healthy controls (HCs) and relevant test methods.Data synthesis: Forty-four studies were included. Nine studies were eligible for the meta-analysis. Significantly lower mentalization ability about oneself was found in patients with an ED when compared to HCs. Groups were more comparable when dealing with mentalization ability of others. Non-significant but clinically relevant results include a tendency for a lower mentalization ability in patients with AN compared to patients with BN.Conclusion: The mentalization profile is complex and varies across dimensions of mentalization in patients with an ED. Different degrees of mentalization between various EDs were found, implying the necessity for further research on mentalization profiles in different ED diagnoses. The sparse existing literature was a limitation for this meta-analysis, emphasizing that further research on the mentalization profile in patients with EDs is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Bach Simonsen
- Faculty of Psychology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | - Simon Grøntved
- Department of Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Gry Kjaersdam Telléus
- Department of Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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23
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Gaggero G, Bonassi A, Dellantonio S, Pastore L, Aryadoust V, Esposito G. A Scientometric Review of Alexithymia: Mapping Thematic and Disciplinary Shifts in Half a Century of Research. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:611489. [PMID: 33362614 PMCID: PMC7758403 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.611489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The term "alexithymia" was introduced in the lexicon of psychiatry in the early '70s by Sifneos to outline the difficulties manifested by some patients in identifying and describing their own emotions. Since then, the construct has been broadened and partially modified. Today this describes a condition characterized by an altered emotional awareness which leads to difficulties in recognizing your own and others' emotions. In half a century, the volume of scientific products focusing on alexithymia has exceeded 5,000. Such an expansive knowledge domain poses a difficulty for those willing to understand how alexithymia research has developed. Scientometrics embodies a solution to this issue, employing computational, and visual analytic methods to uncover meaningful patterns within large bibliographical corpora. In this study, we used the CiteSpace software to examine a corpus of 4,930 publications on alexithymia ranging from 1980 to 2020 and their 100,251 references included in Web of Science. Document co-citation analysis was performed to highlight pivotal publications and major research areas on alexithymia, whereas journal co-citation analysis was conducted to find the related editorial venues and disciplinary communities. The analyses suggest that the construct of alexithymia experienced a gradual thematic and disciplinary shift. Although the first conceptualization of alexithymia came from psychoanalysis and psychosomatics, empirical research was pushed by the operationalization of the construct formulated at the end of the '80s. Specifically, the development of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, currently the most used self-report instrument, seems to have encouraged both the entrance of new disciplines in the study of alexithymia (i.e., cognitive science and neuroscience) and an implicit redefinition of its conceptual nucleus. Overall, we discuss opportunities and limitations in the application of this bottom-up approach, which highlights trends in alexithymia research that were previously identified only through a qualitative, theory-driven approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Gaggero
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Andrea Bonassi
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.,Mobile and Social Computing Lab, Bruno Kessler Foundation, Trento, Italy
| | - Sara Dellantonio
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Luigi Pastore
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Vahid Aryadoust
- National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gianluca Esposito
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.,Psychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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24
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Jacquemot AMMC, Park R. The Role of Interoception in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa: A Narrative Review. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:281. [PMID: 32362843 PMCID: PMC7181672 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric illness characterized by extreme overvaluation of weight and disturbed eating. Despite having the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness, the etiology and neurobiology of AN are poorly understood. A growing body of research has begun to elucidate the role of reward processing, as well as cognitive and limbic networks, in the symptomology of AN. However, these advances have so far failed to contribute therapeutically, suggesting a new understanding may be necessary. A disturbance in the interoceptive system, involved in perceiving and interpreting the physiological condition of the body, has recently been proposed as a central mechanism of pathology in AN, through links to hunger and satiety, risk prediction errors, emotional awareness, and body dysmorphia. This review summarizes the existing literature in order to clarify possible underlying mechanisms and proposes a novel model of the neuro-circuitry of AN. Detailed neuroanatomical studies and new methods for studying interoception may allow further refinement of this model and the development of improved treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca Park
- Medical Sciences Office, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
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25
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Martin E, Dourish C, Rotshtein P, Spetter M, Higgs S. Interoception and disordered eating: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:166-191. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Abstract
One characteristic of human nature is the ability to align our behavior with others. Previous research has linked poor communication skills to alexithymia. This may suggest the possibility that individuals with high alexithymia do not adhere to the principles of social alignment. One form of cognitive alignment is consensus with a group. So far, little research attention has been given to the possible link between alexithymia and this form of cognitive social alignment. In this study, we address this gap by investigating the association between consensus-reaching abilities and alexithymia. A sample comprising of 122 participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and then played a specially designed game called "Consensus under a deadline". In each game, a participant played with either seven bots designed to act rationally and always seek a consensus, or with seven other participants. The participants were unaware who they were playing with. The results of the study confirm the link between alexithymia and impaired cognitive social alignment, showing that the alexithymia cognitive component (EOT) is associated with a deficit in reaching a consensus with humans (that sometimes act irrationally). However, this association was not evident when group members were bots (that always act rationally).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hila Zahava Gvirts
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Psychology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Lihi Dery
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
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27
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Foye U, Hazlett DE, Irving P. Exploring the role of emotional intelligence on disorder eating psychopathology. Eat Weight Disord 2019; 24:299-306. [PMID: 30569396 PMCID: PMC6441396 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-018-0629-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to explore the role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and specific facets that may underpin the aetiology of disordered eating attitudes and behaviours, as a means to understand what aspects of these deficits to target within treatments. METHODS Participants were recruited from the UK and Ireland. Among the sample of 355 participants, 84% were women and 16% were men. Regarding age, 59% were between 18 and 29, 30% were between 30 and 49, and 11% were 50 or older. Using a cross-sectional design, participants completed the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test to measure levels of trait EI and The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) as a measure of eating disorder risk and the presence of disordered eating attitudes. RESULTS EAT-26 scores were negatively correlated with total EI scores and with the following EI subscales: appraisal of own emotions, regulation of emotions, utilisation of emotions, and optimism. Also, compared to those without an eating disorder history, participants who reported having had an eating disorder had significantly lower total EI scores and lower scores on four EI subscales: appraisal of others emotions, appraisal of own emotions, regulation of emotions, and optimism. CONCLUSIONS Considering these findings, EI (especially appraisal of own emotions, regulation of emotions, and optimism) may need to be addressed by interventions and treatments for eating disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level V, descriptive cross-sectional study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Una Foye
- Centre of Psychiatry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK. .,Centre for Mental Health Research, School of Health Sciences, City, University of London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK.
| | - D E Hazlett
- Centre of Higher Education Research and Practice, Ulster University, Jordanstown Campus, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, UK
| | - Pauline Irving
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Ulster University, Jordanstown Campus, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, UK
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Kästner D, Löwe B, Gumz A. The role of self-esteem in the treatment of patients with anorexia nervosa - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Eat Disord 2019; 52:101-116. [PMID: 30488479 DOI: 10.1002/eat.22975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of self-esteem in the treatment of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Specifically, our objectives were to investigate the differences in self-esteem between individuals with AN and healthy controls, or individuals with other eating disorders, and to examine self-esteem as an outcome, predictor, moderator, and mediator in AN treatment. METHOD The databases PsycINFO, PSYNDEXplus, Ovid MEDLINE®, and ProQuest were searched for studies published from 1990 to 2018. To estimate aggregated effect sizes, we performed random-effects meta-analyses. RESULTS A screening of 1,596 abstracts and 203 full-texts identified 68 relevant publications. Results suggest a significantly lower global self-esteem in individuals with AN than in healthy controls (d = -1.90, p < .001). In contrast, global self-esteem of AN and bulimia nervosa (BN) patients was found to be comparable (d = 0.05, p = .529). It might be specific to AN patients that negative self-evaluations may not affect scholastic and professional abilities. Significantly moderate self-esteem increases were observed in treated AN patients at the end of treatment (d = 0.56, p < .001), short-term (d = 0.50, p < .001), and long-term (d = 0.75, p < .001) follow-up. Self-esteem did not predict end of treatment remission-or weight-related outcome and treatment dropout. However, small to moderate predictive effects were detected on short-term (r = .15, p = .007) and long-term remission or weight (r = .33, p = .017). Finally, first indications point to self-esteem as a mediator in adult AN inpatient treatment. DISCUSSION The review provides insights relevant for theory, research, and practice. Implications concern the overall support for transdiagnostic approaches and the recommendation to consider low initial self-esteem for decisions on after-care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Kästner
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre, Hamburg-Eppendorf & Schön Clinic Hamburg Eilbek, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Löwe
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre, Hamburg-Eppendorf & Schön Clinic Hamburg Eilbek, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Antje Gumz
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre, Hamburg-Eppendorf & Schön Clinic Hamburg Eilbek, Hamburg, Germany
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Witte TH, Jordan HR, Michael ML. Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Binge Eating With Mental Escape Features. JOURNAL OF LOSS & TRAUMA 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/15325024.2018.1500348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tricia H. Witte
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Hallie R. Jordan
- Department of Psychology, College of Education and Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
| | - Megan L. Michael
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
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Gramaglia C, Gambaro E, Zeppegno P. Alexithymia and Treatment Outcome in Anorexia Nervosa: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:991. [PMID: 32116818 PMCID: PMC7033613 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Alexithymia is of great interest as an outcome predictor of recovery from anorexia nervosa, since it may interfere with both treatment compliance and patients' ability to benefit from the adopted interventions. For this reason, in the last years new treatment approaches targeting emotion identification, expression, and regulation have been applied and tested. Using the PRISMA methodology, we performed a scoping review of the literature about treatment outcome in anorexia nervosa, in terms of changes in alexithymia as assessed by its most commonly used self-report measure, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). The Medline and Scopus databases were searched, and articles were included if matching the following criteria: dealing with patients affected by anorexia nervosa, without limits of age; involving the application of any kind of targeted therapy or treatment; assessing alexithymia and the effect of a treatment intervention on alexithymia, using the TAS. Ten studies were eventually included; overall, according to the selected studies, alexithymia levels often remain high even after specific treatment. Further research aimed at a deeper understanding of the actual impact of alexithymia on the outcome of anorexia, as well as exploring alternative treatment strategies for alexithymia in eating disorders (EDs), are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Gramaglia
- Institute of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.,S.C. Psichiatria, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy
| | - Eleonora Gambaro
- Institute of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.,S.C. Psichiatria, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy
| | - Patrizia Zeppegno
- Institute of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.,S.C. Psichiatria, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy
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Montebarocci O, Surcinelli P. Correlations between TSIA and TAS-20 and their relation to self-reported negative affect: A study using a multi-method approach in the assessment of alexithymia in a nonclinical sample from Italy. Psychiatry Res 2018; 270:187-193. [PMID: 30261408 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The 20 item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) has been set as the golden standard in assessing alexithymia despite its limitation due to its self-report structure. Overcoming this bound is the main reason that in 2006 brought Bagby, Taylor and Parker to develop the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA): a structured interview composed of 24 questions with the purpose of assessing four dimensions of alexithymia: Identifying emotional feelings (DIF), Describing emotional feelings (DDF), Imaginal processes (IMP), and Externally oriented thinking (EOT). The present study aimed to confirm the validity of the TSIA in the assessment of alexithymia, using internal consistency (alpha) and convergent validity (comparing TSIA and TAS-20). Since it has been demonstrated an association between alexithymia, measured with the TAS-20, and negative affect, an additional goal was to evaluate the correlation of TSIA with two measures of depression and anxiety (BDI-II and STAI-Y2). Our results showed a significant capability of the TSIA in assessing alexithymia while clearing the limitation of the TAS-20 in keeping aside partially overlapping construct such as depression and anxiety. The final suggestion is that a reliable assessment of alexithymia might come from the application of both a self-report and an observer-rated instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paola Surcinelli
- University of Bologna, Department of Psychology, BOLOGNA, Bologna 40127, Italy
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Preece D, Becerra R, Robinson K, Dandy J, Allan A. The psychometric assessment of alexithymia: Development and validation of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Abstract
This study describes treatment of an adult woman, referred to as “Carla,” who was referred for psychological intervention following bariatric surgery due to recurrent nausea and vomiting along with food avoidance. Carla evinced symptoms including dietary range restriction, failure to progress to recommended caloric intake, fear of vomiting, and body dissatisfaction. She was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, along with comorbidities including dysthymia, body dysmorphia, and subsyndromal specific phobia of vomiting (SPOV). Treatment included 20 weekly sessions utilizing a transdiagnostic approach to treatment, which has been shown to be efficacious in management of multiple comorbidities. The limited body of research and results of this case suggest expansion of the criteria for avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) to allow for inclusion of this constellation of symptoms within bariatric patients.
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Jenkinson PM, Taylor L, Laws KR. Self-reported interoceptive deficits in eating disorders: A meta-analysis of studies using the eating disorder inventory. J Psychosom Res 2018; 110:38-45. [PMID: 29764604 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE An impairment of the ability to sense the physiological condition of the body - interoception - has long been proposed as central to the onset and maintenance of eating disorders. More recent attention to this topic has generally indicated the presence of interoceptive deficits in individuals with an eating disorder diagnosis; however, possible links with specific diagnosis, BMI, age, illness duration, depression, and alexithymia remain unclear from individual studies. This meta-analysis aimed to provide a necessary quantitative overview of self-reported interoceptive deficits in eating disorder populations, and the relationship between these deficits and the previously mentioned factors. METHODS Using a random effects model, our meta-analysis assessed the magnitude of differences in interoceptive abilities as measured using the Eating Disorder Inventory in 41 samples comparing people with eating disorders (n = 4308) and healthy controls (n = 3459). Follow-up and moderator analysis was conducted, using group comparisons and meta-regressions. RESULTS We report a large pooled effect size of 1.62 for eating disorders with some variation between diagnostic groups. Further moderator analysis showed that BMI, age and alexithymia were significant predictors of overall effect size. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis is the first to confirm that large interoceptive deficits occur in a variety of eating disorders and crucially, in those who have recovered. These deficits may be useful in identifying and distinguishing eating disorders. Future research needs to consider both objective and subjective measures of interoception across different types of eating disorders and may fruitfully examine interoception as a possible endophenotype and target for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Jenkinson
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK.
| | - Lauren Taylor
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Keith R Laws
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK
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35
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW Eating in response to negative emotions (EE) may be an explanatory factor of the weight regain of many dieters. This narrative review presents evidence on possible causes of EE and the association of EE with depression and obesity and discusses implications of these findings for the treatment of obesity. RECENT FINDINGS Possible causes of EE are high dietary restraint, poor interoceptive awareness, alexithymia, emotion dysregulation and a reversed hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) stress axis. EE may be the outcome of inadequate parenting or depressive feelings in interaction with genetic susceptibility. There is also robust evidence that EE is a mediator between depression and obesity. The association of EE with depression and poor emotion regulation skills suggests that the treatment of obese people with high EE should not focus on calorie-restricted diets but on emotion regulation skills. The DEBQ (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire) enables such a matched treatment of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana van Strien
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Public Health research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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36
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Yuruyen M, Akcan FE, Batun GC, Gultekin G, Toprak M, Yavuzer H, Emul M. Alexithymia in people with subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, and mild Alzheimer's disease. Aging Clin Exp Res 2017; 29:1105-1111. [PMID: 28110464 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-017-0725-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Behavioral and psychological symptoms are widely accepted as accelerator factors in progression to dementia. Although alexithymia is closely related to normal aging process and poor neurocognitive performance, alexithymia has not been included in these symptoms yet. AIMS Here, we aimed to investigate alexithymia features in people with prominent clinical memory complaints. METHODS The participants (n = 82) were classified into three groups as: subjective cognitive decline (n = 30), mild cognitive impairment (n = 27), and mild Alzheimer's disease (n = 25) after Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, neuropsychological test battery, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Hachinski Ischemic Scale. All participants were assessed with 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. RESULTS The patients with mild Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment have significantly greater alexithymia features than individuals with subjective cognitive decline in Toronto Alexithymia Scale (p < 0.05 for all). The alexithymia features in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment did not significantly differ (p > 0.05, for all). DISCUSSION People who have objective cognitive decline seem to have more alexithymia features than people with subjective cognitive decline. Moreover, alexithymia features seem to be similar in people mild Alzheimer's disease and in mild cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION Alexithymia might be an important searching domain of behavioral-psychological symptoms in people with cognitive problems beyond aging.
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37
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Preece D, Becerra R, Allan A, Robinson K, Dandy J. Establishing the theoretical components of alexithymia via factor analysis: Introduction and validation of the attention-appraisal model of alexithymia. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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38
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Invisible side of emotions: somato-motor responses to affective facial displays in alexithymia. Exp Brain Res 2017; 236:195-206. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-017-5118-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Westwood H, Kerr-Gaffney J, Stahl D, Tchanturia K. Alexithymia in eating disorders: Systematic review and meta-analyses of studies using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. J Psychosom Res 2017; 99:66-81. [PMID: 28712432 PMCID: PMC5986724 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2017.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this review was to synthesise the literature on the use of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) in eating disorder populations and Healthy Controls (HCs) and to compare TAS scores in these groups. METHOD Electronic databases were searched systematically for studies using the TAS and meta-analyses were performed to statistically compare scores on the TAS between individuals with eating disorders and HCs. RESULTS Forty-eight studies using the TAS with both a clinical eating disorder group and HCs were identified. Of these, 44 were included in the meta-analyses, separated into: Anorexia Nervosa; Anorexia Nervosa, Restricting subtype; Anorexia Nervosa, Binge-Purge subtype, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. For all groups, there were significant differences with medium or large effect sizes between the clinical group and HCs, with the clinical group scoring significantly higher on the TAS, indicating greater difficulty with identifying and labelling emotions. CONCLUSION Across the spectrum of eating disorders, individuals report having difficulties recognising or describing their emotions. Given the self-report design of the TAS, research to develop and evaluate treatments and clinician-administered assessments of alexithymia is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Westwood
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychological Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Jess Kerr-Gaffney
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychological Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Daniel Stahl
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Biostatistics, London, UK.
| | - Kate Tchanturia
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychological Medicine, London, UK; South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, National Eating Disorders Service, Psychological Medicine Clinical Academic Group, UK; Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
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40
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Fujiwara E, Kube VL, Rochman D, Macrae-Korobkov AK, Peynenburg V. Visual Attention to Ambiguous Emotional Faces in Eating Disorders: Role of Alexithymia. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2017; 25:451-460. [PMID: 28762613 DOI: 10.1002/erv.2535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Eating disorders (EDs) are often accompanied by social-emotional problems. Recently, alexithymia has been suggested to explain objective emotion processing deficits in EDs. We tested if elevated levels of alexithymia may explain emotional face-processing problems in a mixed ED group (N = 24, 19 with anorexia and five with bulimia), comparing them with high-alexithymic (N = 25) and low-alexithymic healthy controls (N = 25). Participants judged the mixture ratio of clear and ambiguous facial emotion blends while eye movements were recorded. The ED group was less accurate judging ambiguous blends containing anger or disgust and attended less to the faces compared with low-alexithymic controls. Reduced attention to faces, in particular the eye region, was linked to confusion with ambiguous anger and disgust in the ED group only. Although significant group differences only emerged compared with low-alexithymic controls, the visual attention patterns underlying the ED group's problems with subtle anger and disgust expressions were not driven by alexithymia. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Fujiwara
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Veronica L Kube
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Daniel Rochman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Canada
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Monteleone AM, Castellini G, Ricca V, Volpe U, De Riso F, Nigro M, Zamponi F, Mancini M, Stanghellini G, Monteleone P, Treasure J, Maj M. Embodiment Mediates the Relationship between Avoidant Attachment and Eating Disorder Psychopathology. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2017; 25:461-468. [PMID: 28762262 DOI: 10.1002/erv.2536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The overvaluation of body shape and weight of persons with eating disorders (EDs) is putatively explained by a disturbance in the way they experience their own body (embodiment). Moreover, attachment disorders seem to promote the use of body as source for self-definition. Therefore, we assessed the role of embodiment in the connection between attachment styles and ED psychopathology. METHOD One-hundred and thirteen ED patients and 117 healthy subjects completed the Identity and Eating Disorders (IDEA) Questionnaire, the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) and the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale. RESULTS Eating disorder patients displayed IDEA, EDI-2 and Experiences in Close Relationships scores significantly higher than controls. IDEA total and subtotal scores mediated entirely the influence of avoidant attachment on EDI-2 interoceptive awareness and impulsivity. DISCUSSION These findings demonstrate a relationship between insecure attachment and disorders of identity and embodiment and point to embodiment as a possible mediator between avoidant attachment and specific ED psychopathological traits. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Maria Monteleone
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.,Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London (KCL), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Giovanni Castellini
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Valdo Ricca
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Umberto Volpe
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco De Riso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Nigro
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Zamponi
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Milena Mancini
- DiSPUTer, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Giovanni Stanghellini
- DiSPUTer, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Department of Cognitive Science and Language, Diego Portales University of Santiago, Chile, Italy
| | - Palmiero Monteleone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry 'Scuola Medica Salernitana', Section of Neurosciences, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Janet Treasure
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London (KCL), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Mario Maj
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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Kajanoja J, Scheinin NM, Karlsson L, Karlsson H, Karukivi M. Illuminating the clinical significance of alexithymia subtypes: A cluster analysis of alexithymic traits and psychiatric symptoms. J Psychosom Res 2017; 97:111-117. [PMID: 28606490 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2017.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alexithymia is a personality construct involving difficulties identifying and verbalizing feelings, and an externally oriented thinking style. There is preliminary evidence for alexithymia subtypes that may carry different risk profiles for psychiatric illness. The aim of this study was to gain support for the existence of alexithymia subtypes and further characterize their clinical relevance. METHODS To identify possible subtypes, a cluster analysis was conducted for individuals with high alexithymic traits (N=113). Current depressive and anxiety symptoms, self-reported psychiatric medical history, and self-reported early life adversity were compared between subtypes. The cluster analysis was replicated with the low (N=2471) and moderate (N=290) alexithymia groups. RESULTS We identified two alexithymia subtypes. Compared to type A, type B alexithymia was associated with higher levels of difficulties in identifying feelings, and was more strongly associated with current depressive (Cohen's d=0.77, p<0.001) and anxiety symptoms (Cohen's d=0.82, p<0.001), and self-reported early life adversity (Cohen's d 0.42, p=0.048). Compared to type A, type B alexithymia was also associated with a higher prevalence of self-reported diagnosis of major depressive- (30.2% vs. 8.3%) and anxiety disorder (18.9% vs. 3.3%). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study support the hypothesis of alexithymia subtypes, and add support to the growing evidence showing that alexithymia is likely a heterogeneous and dimensional phenomenon. The subtype (type B) with most pronounced difficulties in identifying feelings may be associated with a higher risk for psychiatric illness compared to type A alexithymia, and may exhibit a more severe history of early life adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kajanoja
- University of Turku, FinnBrain birth cohort study, Finland.
| | - N M Scheinin
- University of Turku, FinnBrain birth cohort study, Finland
| | - L Karlsson
- University of Turku, FinnBrain birth cohort study, Finland
| | - H Karlsson
- University of Turku, FinnBrain birth cohort study, Finland
| | - M Karukivi
- University of Turku, FinnBrain birth cohort study, Finland
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43
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Wielopolski J, Kleinjung T, Koch M, Peter N, Meyer M, Rufer M, Weidt S. Alexithymia Is Associated with Tinnitus Severity. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:223. [PMID: 29163242 PMCID: PMC5681746 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alexithymia is considered to be a personality trait with a tendency to express psychological distress in somatic rather than emotional form and, therefore, may play a vital role in somatization. Although, such a propensity can be found in patients suffering from tinnitus, the relationship between alexithymic characteristics and the subjective experience of tinnitus severity remains yet unclear. Our aim was to evaluate which alexithymic characteristics are linked to the subjective experience of tinnitus symptomatology. METHODS We evaluated tinnitus severity (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, THI), alexithymia (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-20), and depression (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) in 207 outpatients with tinnitus. Correlation analyses and multiple regression analyses were calculated in order to investigate the relationship between alexithymic characteristics, tinnitus severity, and depression. RESULTS Highly significant positive correlations were found between THI total score and TAS-20 total score as well as BDI score. Regarding the TAS-20 subscales, multiple regression analyses showed that only the TAS-20 subscale "difficulty in identifying feelings" (DIF) and the BDI significantly predicted the subjective experience of tinnitus severity. Regarding the THI subscales, only higher scores of the THI subscale "functional" demonstrated an independent moderate association with higher scores for DIF. CONCLUSION We found an independent association between the subjective experience of tinnitus severity and alexithymic characteristics, particularly with regard to limitations in the fields of mental, social, and physical functioning because of tinnitus and the difficulty of identifying feelings facet of alexithymia. These findings are conducive to a better understanding of affect regulation that may be important for the psychological adaptation of patients suffering from tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Wielopolski
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kleinjung
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Koch
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Peter
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Meyer
- Neuroplasticity and Learning in the Healthy Aging Brain, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Rufer
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Steffi Weidt
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Perepelkina O, Boboleva M, Arina G, Nikolaeva V. Higher Emotional Intelligence Is Associated With a Stronger Rubber Hand Illusion. Multisens Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/22134808-00002577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate how emotion information processing factors, such as alexithymia and emotional intelligence, modulate body ownership and influence multisensory integration during the ‘rubber hand illusion’ (RHI) task. It was previously shown that alexithymia correlates with RHI, and we suggested that emotional intelligence should also be a top-down factor of body ownership, since it was not shown in previous experiments. We elaborated the study of Grynberg and Pollatos [Front. Hum. Neurosci.9(2015) 357] with an additional measure of emotional intelligence, and propose an explanation for the interrelation of emotion and body ownership processing. Eighty subjects took part in the RHI experiment and completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). Only MSCEIT was detected to be a significant predictor of the subjective measure of the RHI. There were no significant correlations between alexithymia scores and the test statements of the RHI or the proprioceptive drift, thus we did not replicate the results of Grynberg and Pollatos. However, alexithymia correlated with the control statements of subjective reports of the illusion, which might be explained as a disruption of the ability to discriminate and describe bodily experience. Therefore, (1) alexithymia seems to be connected with difficulties in conscious or verbal processing of body-related information, and (2) higher emotional intelligence might improve multisensory integration of body-related signals and reflect better predictive models of self-processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Perepelkina
- Psychology Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 125009, Russia
| | - Maria Boboleva
- Psychology Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 125009, Russia
| | - Galina Arina
- Psychology Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 125009, Russia
| | - Valentina Nikolaeva
- Psychology Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 125009, Russia
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Gómez-Expósito A, Wolz I, Fagundo AB, Granero R, Steward T, Jiménez-Murcia S, Agüera Z, Fernández-Aranda F. Correlates of Non-suicidal Self-Injury and Suicide Attempts in Bulimic Spectrum Disorders. Front Psychol 2016; 7:1244. [PMID: 27597836 PMCID: PMC4992685 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the implication of personality, impulsivity, and emotion regulation difficulties in patients with a bulimic-spectrum disorder (BSD) and suicide attempts (SA), BSD patients with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and BSD patients without these behaviors. Method: One hundred and twenty-two female adult BSD patients were assessed using self-report questionnaires. Patients were clustered post-hoc into three groups depending on whether they presented BSD without NSSI or SA (BSD), BSD with lifetime NSSI (BSD + NSSI) or BSD with lifetime SA (BSD + SA). Results: The BSD + NSSI and BSD + SA groups presented more emotion regulation difficulties, more eating and general psychopathology, and increased reward dependence in comparison with the BSD group. In addition, BSD + SA patients specifically showed problems with impulse control, while also presenting higher impulsivity than both the BSD and BSD + NSSI groups. No differences in impulsivity between the BSD and BSD + NSSI groups were found. Conclusions: The results show that BSD + NSSI and BSD + SA share a common profile characterized by difficulties in emotion regulation and low reward dependence, but differ in impulsivity and cooperativeness. This suggests that self-injury, in patients without a history of suicide attempts (i.e., BSD + NSSI), may have a regulatory role rather than being due to impulsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ines Wolz
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELLBarcelona, Spain; Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto Salud Carlos IIIBarcelona, Spain
| | - Ana B Fagundo
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELLBarcelona, Spain; Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto Salud Carlos IIIBarcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Granero
- Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto Salud Carlos IIIBarcelona, Spain; Departament de Psicobiologia i Metodologia. Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBarcelona, Spain
| | - Trevor Steward
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELLBarcelona, Spain; Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto Salud Carlos IIIBarcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Jiménez-Murcia
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELLBarcelona, Spain; Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto Salud Carlos IIIBarcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of BarcelonaBarcelona, Spain
| | - Zaida Agüera
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELLBarcelona, Spain; Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto Salud Carlos IIIBarcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando Fernández-Aranda
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELLBarcelona, Spain; Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto Salud Carlos IIIBarcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of BarcelonaBarcelona, Spain
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Amianto F, Bertorello A, Migliore F, Abbate-Daga G, Fassino S. Alexithymia in anorexia and bulimia: Ubiquitous and primary trait? COGENT PSYCHOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/23311908.2016.1185994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- F. Amianto
- Neuroscience Department, Psychiatry Section, University of Turin, Psychiatric Clinic, V. Cherasco 11, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - A. Bertorello
- Neuroscience Department, Psychiatry Section, University of Turin, Psychiatric Clinic, V. Cherasco 11, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - F. Migliore
- Neuroscience Department, Psychiatry Section, University of Turin, Psychiatric Clinic, V. Cherasco 11, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - G. Abbate-Daga
- Neuroscience Department, Psychiatry Section, University of Turin, Psychiatric Clinic, V. Cherasco 11, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - S. Fassino
- Neuroscience Department, Psychiatry Section, University of Turin, Psychiatric Clinic, V. Cherasco 11, 10126 Turin, Italy
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McGillivray L, Becerra R, Harms C. Prevalence and Demographic Correlates of Alexithymia: A Comparison Between Australian Psychiatric and Community Samples. J Clin Psychol 2016; 73:76-87. [DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rodrigo Becerra
- Edith Cowan University; Western Australia
- Fremantle Adult Mental Health Services
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Alexithymia and Addiction: A Review and Preliminary Data Suggesting Neurobiological Links to Reward/Loss Processing. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2016; 3:239-248. [PMID: 27695665 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-016-0097-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alexithymia, characterized by impairments in emotional awareness, is common among individuals with substance use disorders. Research on alexithymia suggests that it is a trait that may contribute to substance dependence. This paper will review alexithymia as it relates to substance use and substance use disorders, considering its potential role in the maintenance and treatment of these disorders. We will then describe how neural correlates associated with alexithymia may shed light on how alexithymia relates to addiction. Finally, we present preliminary fMRI data that examines how alexithymia may relate to the neurobiological correlates of reward/loss processing in individuals with cocaine dependence. While preliminary, these findings suggest a role of alexithymia in reward anticipation in cocaine-dependent individuals.
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Kleiman A, Kramer KA, Wegener I, Koch AS, Geiser F, Imbierowicz K, Zur B, Conrad R. Psychophysiological decoupling in alexithymic pain disorder patients. Psychiatry Res 2016; 237:316-22. [PMID: 26804974 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Considering that impaired coping with stress is closely linked with emergence of stress-sensitive disorders most notably in alexithymic individuals, we conducted the first study examining stress-related autonomic reactivity in alexithymic pain disorder patients. Twenty-one pain disorder patients with high and an equivalent patient group with low alexithymia scores were exposed to three types of affect-inductive stimuli with variable affective involvement: arithmetic task, watching arousing video material and giving an oral presentation. Subjective appraisal of the induced emotional experience and physiological reactivity (heart rate, muscle tension and skin conductance) was documented. During oral presentation high alexithymia patients showed significantly lower skin conductance in combination with increased subjective negative affect compared to low alexithymia patients. Our results thus demonstrate a decoupling between physiological and affect processing in pain disorder patients with high alexithymia during a stressful situation that was subjectively associated with negative affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Kleiman
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Karen Anne Kramer
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Ingo Wegener
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Anne Sarah Koch
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Franziska Geiser
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Katrin Imbierowicz
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Berndt Zur
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Rupert Conrad
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Germany.
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Khalsa SS, Lapidus RC. Can Interoception Improve the Pragmatic Search for Biomarkers in Psychiatry? Front Psychiatry 2016; 7:121. [PMID: 27504098 PMCID: PMC4958623 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Disrupted interoception is a prominent feature of the diagnostic classification of several psychiatric disorders. However, progress in understanding the interoceptive basis of these disorders has been incremental, and the application of interoception in clinical treatment is currently limited to panic disorder. To examine the degree to which the scientific community has recognized interoception as a construct of interest, we identified and individually screened all articles published in the English language on interoception and associated root terms in Pubmed, Psychinfo, and ISI Web of Knowledge. This search revealed that interoception is a multifaceted process that is being increasingly studied within the fields of psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, and biomedical science. To illustrate the multifaceted nature of interoception, we provide a focused review of one of the most commonly studied interoceptive channels, the cardiovascular system, and give a detailed comparison of the most popular methods used to study cardiac interoception. We subsequently review evidence of interoceptive dysfunction in panic disorder, depression, somatic symptom disorders, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. For each disorder, we suggest how interoceptive predictions constructed by the brain may erroneously bias individuals to express key symptoms and behaviors, and outline questions that are suitable for the development of neuroscience-based mental health interventions. We conclude that interoception represents a viable avenue for clinical and translational research in psychiatry, with a well-established conceptual framework, a neural basis, measurable biomarkers, interdisciplinary appeal, and transdiagnostic targets for understanding and improving mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahib S Khalsa
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR), Tulsa, OK, USA; Oxley College of Health Sciences, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Rachel C Lapidus
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR), Tulsa, OK, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA
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