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How does it feel? An exploration of neurobiological and clinical correlates of alexithymia in trauma-exposed police-officers with and without PTSD.
van Sleeuwen, Cindy; van Zuiden, Mirjam; Koch, Saskia B J; Frijling, Jessie L; Veltman, Dick J; Olff, Miranda; Nawijn, Laura.
Afiliação
  • van Sleeuwen C; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
  • van Zuiden M; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Koch SBJ; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Frijling JL; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
  • Veltman DJ; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Olff M; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, OLVG Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Nawijn L; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Eur J Psychotraumatol ; 14(2): 2281187, 2023.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38154073
ABSTRACT

Background:

Alexithymia, an inability to recognise one's emotions, has been associated with trauma-exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous research suggests involvement of the oxytocin system, and socio-emotional neural processes. However, the paucity of neurobiological research on alexithymia, particularly in trauma-exposed populations, warrants further investigation.

Objective:

Explore associations between alexithymia, endogenous oxytocin levels, and socio-emotional brain function and morphometry in a trauma-exposed sample.

Method:

Dutch trauma-exposed police officers with (n = 38; 18 females) and without PTSD (n = 40; 20 females) were included. Alexithymia was assessed with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Endogenous salivary oxytocin was assessed during rest, using radioimmunoassay. Amygdala and insula reactivity to socio-emotional stimuli were assessed with functional MRI, amygdala and insula grey matter volume were derived using Freesurfer.

Results:

Alexithymia was higher in PTSD patients compared to trauma-exposed controls (F(1,70) = 54.031, p < .001). Within PTSD patients, alexithymia was positively associated with PTSD severity (ρ(36) = 0.497, p = .002). Alexithymia was not associated with childhood trauma exposure (ß = 0.076, p = .509), police work-related trauma exposure (ß = -0.107, p = .355), oxytocin levels (ß = -0.164, p = .161), insula (ß = -0.170, p = .158) or amygdala (ß = -0.175, p = .135) reactivity, or amygdala volume (ß = 0.146, p = .209). Insula volume was positively associated with alexithymia (ß = 0.222, p = .016), though not significant after multiple testing corrections. Bayesian analyses supported a lack of associations.

Conclusions:

No convincing neurobiological correlates of alexithymia were observed with any of the markers included in the current study. Yet, the current study confirmed high levels of alexithymia in PTSD patients, independent of trauma-exposure, substantiating alexithymia's relevance in the clinical phenotype of PTSD.
Little is known about neurobiological correlates of alexithymia in trauma-exposed and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) populations.In this highly trauma-exposed sample, alexithymia was associated with PTSD symptoms, but not with childhood or adult trauma exposure, suggesting alexithymia is not a direct consequence of trauma.Alexithymia was not convincingly associated with salivary oxytocin, amygdala and insula reactivity to socio-emotional stimuli, amygdala or insula grey matter volume.
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Texto completo: 1 Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos Limite: Female / Humans Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2023 Tipo de documento: Article

Texto completo: 1 Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Transtornos de Estresse Pós-Traumáticos Limite: Female / Humans Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2023 Tipo de documento: Article