Quadratic Relationship Between Alexithymia and Interoceptive Accuracy, and Results From a Pilot Mindfulness Intervention.
Frontiers in Psychiatry January 1, 2020 Rachel V Aaron, Scott D Blain, Matthew A Snodgress et al.
Alexithymia, a reduced ability to label and describe emotions, may be linked to how people perceive internal bodily signals, but the relationship is complex. In a study of 76 young adults, those with higher alexithymia showed either relatively high or low interoceptive accuracy, while interoceptive sensibility showed a linear association. A brief mindfulness-based body scan meditation did not improve interoceptive accuracy, interoceptive sensibility, or emotional awareness beyond a control condition; both groups improved in interoceptive accuracy over time. The findings suggest that longer or more interactive interventions may be needed to address affective deficits associated with alexithymia.