title: [Increased level of tonic sympathetic arousal in high-vs. low-alexithymic cervical dystonia patients].
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess whether alexithymia is a risk factor for autonomic dysregulation in cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis, ST). Alexithymia was assessed by an authorized German version of the TAS-20. In a first step, we recruited 10 ST-patients with high alexithymia scores (> 62; M = 69.2, SD = 3.0) and compared them with 10 ST-patients with low alexithymia scores (< 35; M = 28.7, SD = 4.3) on physiological and subjective responses to a cognitive and an emotional laboratory stressor. High-alexithymic ST-patients generally showed increased levels of autonomic arousal (higher SCL, more NS.SCF and lower T; 0.016 </= p </= 0.065) under all experimental conditions. In a second step, we used a less extreme alexithymia-definition (high >/= 57 vs. low </= 36) in a sample of 2 x 20 probands and found no significant differences. Our results suggest a chronically increased level of sympathetic activation in high-alexithymic patients with spasmodic torticollis.
authors.affiliation: Institut und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin, Psychotherapie und Medizinische Psychologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU München, Germany. H.Guendel@lrz.tu-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gündel
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.forename: Andres O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ceballos-Baumann
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Von Rad
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Förstl
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D004421:Dystonia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014103:Torticollis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology