Abnormalities in automatic processing of illness-related stimuli in self-rated alexithymia

Abstract

Aim: To investigate abnormalities in automatic information processing related to self- and observer-rated alexithymia, especially with regard to somatization, controlling for confounding variables such as depression and affect. Sample:89 healthy subjects (60% female), aged 19-71 years (M = 32.1). 58 subjects were additionally rated by an observer. Measures: Alexithymia (self-rating: TAS-20, observer rating: OAS); automatic information processing (priming task including verbal [illness-related, negative, positive, neutral] and facial [negative, positive, neutral] stimuli); somatoform symptoms (SOMS-7T); confounders: depression (BDI), affect (PANAS). Results: Higher self-reported alexithymia scores were associated with lower reaction times for negative (r =.19, p