title: Alexithymia and its relationships with acute phase proteins and cytokine release: an updated review.
abstract: The alexithymia construct is multidimensional and comprises several features: (a) difficulty in identifying and describing feelings, (b) difficulty in distinguishing feelings from the bodily sensations, (c) diminution of fantasy, and (d) concrete and poorly introspective thinking. Altered immune responses have been seen in some psychiatric disorders and several data suggest that analogous changes could also be observable in alexithymia. Hence, the aim of this review is to investigate the relationships between alexithymia and acute phase proteins and cytokines in psychiatric, psychosomatic and medical diseases. Several studies have reported an association between alexithymia and higher circulating levels of acute phase proteins, especially C-Reactive Protein. Moreover, in alexithymic subjects the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine balance may be tuned toward a pro-inflammatory imbalance with a concomitant altered cell-mediated immunity. These findings may be consistent with the "stress-alexithymia hypothesis". Therefore, the screening of alexithymic traits and the administration of appropriate psychological and psychotherapeutical interventions should be integral parts of disease management programs. Supplying such interventions will probably help with prevention of the development of the disease and/or its exacerbation by improving the quality of life of alexithymic individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital G. Mazzini, ASL 4 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Berardis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, University G. DAnnunzio, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Psychopharmacotherapeutics, Section of Psychiatry, Department.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iasevoli
authors.affiliation: Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valchera
authors.affiliation: Department of Scienze della Formazione, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fornaro
authors.affiliation: IASM, LAquila, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavuto
authors.affiliation: National Health Service, U. O. S. D. Senology, Hospital G. Mazzini, ASL 4, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brucchi
authors.affiliation: Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Villa San Benedetto Menni, Albese con Cassano, Como, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, SantAndrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pompili
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatry Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Modabbernia
authors.affiliation: Director, School of Nursing, MeSvA Department, University of LAquila, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of LAquila, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, University G. DAnnunzio, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, University G. DAnnunzio, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Giannantonio
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000276:immunology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein