Psychosomatic medicine
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Psychosomatic medicine · Jan 2020
Insula Activity to Visceral Stimulation and Endocrine Stress Responses as Associated With Alexithymia in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Few studies have investigated associations between alexithymia and physiological mechanisms in psychosomatic diseases. We examined associations between alexithymia and 1) perception and brain processing of visceral stimulation and 2) the endocrine responses to corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) in healthy individuals and patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). ⋯ Higher alexithymia scores are associated with stronger physiological responses, but lower anticipatory fear ratings and higher discomfort thresholds, particularly in patients with IBS.