Alexithymic characteristics and interoceptive abilities are associated with disease severity and levels of C-reactive protein and cytokines in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alexithymia and atypical gut-brain signaling have been linked to the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We herein assessed IBD patients' alexithymia levels and interoceptive abilities, and detected potential correlations with psychological distress, symptom severity and disease activity, and inflammation indices.

Methods

Adult IBD outpatients and healthy controls were recruited. Alexithymia was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, interoceptive accuracy using the Heartbeat Counting Test (cardiac interoception) and the Water Load Test-II (gastric interoception), and interoceptive sensibility using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA).

Results

Forty-one patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 16 with ulcerat

SUBMITTER: Vinni E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10304527 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature