Alexithymia. II. The association with unexplained physical distress.
Unexplained physical distress, when associated with alexithymia, becomes a diagnostic puzzle leading to prolonged investigation, ineffective treatment, and psychiatric referral. The persistent, often almost indescribable quality of the distress suggests a central disturbance of the mechanism of pain experience involving the limbic system and the endogenous opiates.
D003142:Communication; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014705:Verbal Behavior