Alexithymia is associated with neural reactivity to masked emotional faces in adolescents who self-harm.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major, trans-diagnostic mental health problem among adolescents. Alexithymia has been identified as a developmental risk factor for NSSI. Research on how alexithymia relates to the neurobiology of automatic emotion processing is only beginning to emerge. This study evaluates the relationship between alexithymic features and neural responses to automatic processing of emotional content in adolescents with NSSI.

Methods

25 female adolescents (ages 13-21) with a history of repeated engagement in NSSI completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a task in which participants were exposed to masked emotions.

Results

SUBMITTER: Demers LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6724702 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature