Alexithymia in PTSD: psychometric and FMRI studies

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Jul:1071:397-400. doi: 10.1196/annals.1364.029.

Abstract

Two studies examined correlates of alexithymia in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In study 1 (n = 77 individuals with PTSD and 45 controls) Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20) scores were positively correlated with PTSD symptoms, dissociation, and childhood abuse and neglect. In study 2, TAS-20 scores were examined as correlates of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response to trauma script imagery. In 16 controls, TAS-20 scores correlated positively with response in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and negatively with response in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and thalamus. In 26 individuals with PTSD, TAS-20 scores correlated positively with response in insula, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and thalamus, and negatively with response in ACC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affective Symptoms / etiology
  • Affective Symptoms / physiopathology*
  • Affective Symptoms / psychology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Child
  • Child Abuse / psychology
  • Dissociative Disorders / etiology
  • Dissociative Disorders / psychology
  • Emotions / physiology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Oxygen / blood
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism
  • Prefrontal Cortex / pathology
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychometrics
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / complications
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / physiopathology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Thalamus / metabolism
  • Thalamus / pathology

Substances

  • Oxygen