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Bøen E, Hummelen B, Boye B, Elvsåshagen T, Malt UF. Borderline patients have difficulties describing feelings; bipolar II patients describe difficult feelings. An alexithymia study. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2020; 142:203-214. [PMID: 32594515 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Apparent similarities between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar II disorder (BIP-II) contribute to clinical difficulties in distinguishing between the disorders. Here, we aimed to explore how subjective Difficulties with the Identification and Description of Feelings (DIDF), a major constituent of the alexithymia construct and assessed as a part of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), are related to relationship problems and health complaints in these groups. METHODS Twenty-two patients with BPD; 22 patients with BIP-II; and 23 healthy controls (HC) completed TAS. Health complaints, including symptoms associated with mood swings, were assessed with the Giessener Subjective Complaints List (Giessener Beschwerdebogen-GBB), and relationship problems with the Health of the Nation Outcome scale, Relationship item (HoNOSR). Bivariate correlations were run. RESULTS Both patient groups had high DIDF and GBB scores. In BPD only, there was a significant positive correlation between DIDF and HoNOSR. In BIP-II only, there was a significant positive correlation between DIDF and GBB total score. In BIP-II, DIDF correlated highly with those GBB subscales assessing symptoms typically occurring during bipolar mood swings (cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms, exhaustion). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that in BPD, high DIDF scores represent genuine problems with identifying and describing emotions which are expected to correlate with relationship problems. In BIP-II, high DIDF scores could potentially represent difficulties with understanding the unpredictable symptoms of bipolar mood swings. The findings suggest that difficulties with identifying and describing feelings in patients should be carefully explored to increase the validity of the diagnostic evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bøen
- Psychosomatic and CL Psychiatry, Clinic for Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - B Hummelen
- Department of Research and Development, Clinic for Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - B Boye
- Psychosomatic and CL Psychiatry, Clinic for Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Behavioural Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - T Elvsåshagen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - U F Malt
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Aldaz E, Aritzeta A, Galdona N. The association between alexithymia, emotional intelligence and burnout among nursing assistants working in nursing home settings: A cross-sectional study. J Adv Nurs 2019; 75:2786-2796. [PMID: 31287174 DOI: 10.1111/jan.14153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To determine the explanatory power of alexithymia and emotional intelligence over burnout and to examine their combined explanatory capacity over burnout in the context of older adult care. DESIGN Cross-sectional. All participants voluntarily and anonymously completed a questionnaire survey. They were all blind to the aim of the study. METHODS One hundred and fifty-nine nursing assistants recruited during 2014 took part in the study. They belong to 10 nursing homes in the north of Spain. Sociodemographic and work-related information was collected, and measures of burnout, alexithymia and emotional intelligence were administered. Data were examined by means of regression analyses. RESULTS The analysis showed that alexithymia made a moderate contribution to the depersonalization and personal accomplishment dimensions of burnout, controlling for the influence of work characteristics. Emotional intelligence did not have incremental validity over alexithymia in explaining burnout. CONCLUSION Alexithymia, rather than emotional intelligence, is a stronger explanatory variable for burnout among nursing assistants working in nursing homes. IMPACT Alexithymia and emotional intelligence are related to burnout and help to explain why, in the same context, each worker is affected differently by chronic stress at work. However, their combined explanatory capacity in nursing assistants working with older people remains underexplored. In our sample, alexithymia explains burnout better than emotional intelligence, a finding that was both unexpected and theoretically relevant. Researchers should take this into account when studying personal resources to prevent and manage burnout among nursing assistants, as alexithymia, rather that emotional intelligence, could play an important role once workers are burned out. Training nursing assistants to identify and describe emotions should be considered as part of their training programmes and/or in nursing homes as an institutional strategy to prevent burnout and to improve the quality of older adult care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aitor Aritzeta
- University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
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He L, Mao Y, Sun J, Zhuang K, Zhu X, Qiu J, Chen X. Examining Brain Structures Associated With Emotional Intelligence and the Mediated Effect on Trait Creativity in Young Adults. Front Psychol 2018; 9:925. [PMID: 29962984 PMCID: PMC6014059 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and trait creativity (TC), and the brain structural bases which involves. This study investigated the neuroanatomical basis of the association between EI and TC which measured by the Schutte self-report EI scale and the Williams creativity aptitude test. First, the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was used to explore the brain structures which is closely related to EI in a large young sample (n = 213). The results showed that EI was positively correlated with the regional gray matter volume (rGMV) in the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), which is regarded as a key region of emotional processing. More importantly, further mediation analysis revealed that rGMV in the right OFC partially mediated the association between EI and TC, which showed the OFC volume could account for the relationship between EI and TC. These findings confirmed the close relationship between EI and TC, and highlighted that the brain volumetric variation in the OFC associated with the top-down processing of emotion regulation, which may play a critical role in the promotion of TC. Together, these findings contributed to sharpening the understanding of the complex relationship between EI and TC from the perspective of brain structural basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li He
- School of Education, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Mao
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiangzhou Sun
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kaixiang Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xingxing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoyi Chen
- School of Education, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
- Student Mental Health Education and Consultation Center, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
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Natalucci G, Faedda N, Calderoni D, Cerutti R, Verdecchia P, Guidetti V. Headache and Alexithymia in Children and Adolescents: What Is the Connection? Front Psychol 2018; 9:48. [PMID: 29449820 PMCID: PMC5799825 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Headache is one of the most common complaints in children and adolescents and comorbidity rates are very high and the major associated diseases are depression, anxiety, atopic disorders, sleep, and behavioral disorders. In recent years, it has been highlighted that difficulties regulating emotions such as alexithymia have also been associated with diagnosis of somatization. Methods: We carried out a mini review analyzing the relation between alexithymia and primary headache (e.g., migraine and tension type headache) in children and adolescents by synthesizing the relevant studies in the literature on PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Search terms were "alexithymia" combined with the "primary headache," "migraine," "tension type headache," "children," and "adolescents." Results: All analyzed studies found higher levels of alexithymia in children and adolescents with headache than control groups but there are different opinions about the relationship between headache and alexithymia. For example, some studies suggest that the association between headache and alexithymia in children may be due to an incomplete development of emotive competency or a general immature cognitive development, instead other studies found a correlation between headache symptoms, insecure attachment, and alexithymia. There seems to be also differences between children with migraine compared to those with tension type headache (TTH). Conclusion: There are some studies on adults suffering from headache or migraine and alexithymia, but there is only a moderate amount of research on pediatric age with different opinions and theories about this relationship. Further studies on children and adolescents are necessary to effectively understand this relationship and to help children to reduce headache and improve emotional consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Natalucci
- Department of Paediatric and Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Noemi Faedda
- Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Paediatric and Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Dario Calderoni
- Department of Paediatric and Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Cerutti
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Verdecchia
- Department of Paediatric and Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Guidetti
- Department of Paediatric and Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Shin CW, Kim GA, Park WJ, Park KY, Jeon JM, Oh HJ, Kim MJ, Lee BC. Learning, memory and exploratory similarities in genetically identical cloned dogs. J Vet Sci 2016; 17:563-567. [PMID: 27030191 PMCID: PMC5204035 DOI: 10.4142/jvs.2016.17.4.563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatic cell nuclear transfer allows generation of genetically identical animals using donor cells derived from animals with particular traits. To date, few studies have investigated whether or not these cloned dogs will show identical behavior patterns. To address this question, learning, memory and exploratory patterns were examined using six cloned dogs with identical nuclear genomes. The variance of total incorrect choice number in the Y-maze test among cloned dogs was significantly lower than that of the control dogs. There was also a significant decrease in variance in the level of exploratory activity in the open fields test compared to age-matched control dogs. These results indicate that cloned dogs show similar cognitive and exploratory patterns, suggesting that these behavioral phenotypes are related to the genotypes of the individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Won Shin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Geon A Kim
- Department of Theriogenology & Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Won Jun Park
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Kwan Yong Park
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089, USA
| | - Jeong Min Jeon
- Department of Statistics, College of Natural Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hyun Ju Oh
- Department of Theriogenology & Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Min Jung Kim
- Department of Theriogenology & Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Byeong Chun Lee
- Department of Theriogenology & Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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Koh MJ, Kang JI, Namkoong K, Lee SY, Kim SJ. Association between the Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Val¹⁵⁸Met Polymorphism and Alexithymia in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Yonsei Med J 2016; 57:721-7. [PMID: 26996573 PMCID: PMC4800363 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2016.57.3.721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Alexithymia, defined as a deficit in the ability to recognize and describe one's own feelings, may be related to the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val¹⁵⁸Met polymorphism and alexithymia in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). MATERIALS AND METHODS We recruited 244 patients with OCD (169 males, 75 females). Alexithymia was assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and genotyping of the COMT Val¹⁵⁸Met polymorphism was evaluated. RESULTS Patients with the COMT Val/Val genotype had significantly higher total and "difficulty identifying feelings" (DIF) subdimension scores than those with the Val/Met or Met/Met genotypes. Patients with the COMT Val/Val genotype had significantly higher "difficulty describing feelings" (DDF) subdimension scores than those with the COMT Val/Met genotype. However, there were no differences in the scores for the "externally oriented thinking" (EOT) subdimension among the three genotypes. CONCLUSION These results indicate that the high-activity Val allele of the COMT Val¹⁵⁸Met polymorphism is associated with increased alexithymic traits in patients with OCD. The present finding suggests that alexithymia is an endophenotype of OCD that is mediated by the COMT Val¹⁵⁸Met polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Jung Koh
- Department of Psychiatry, Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jee In Kang
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kee Namkoong
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Su Young Lee
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Se Joo Kim
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Liu Y, Li XN, Sun XR, Liu QL, Zha SW, Chen YH, Mao CT, Xu XY. Prenatal and neonatal risk factors associated with children's developmental status at ages 4-7: lessons from the Jiangsu China birth defects prevention cohort. Child Care Health Dev 2015; 41:712-21. [PMID: 25623331 DOI: 10.1111/cch.12225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited information involving population data about the role of maternal health, fetal growth and neonatal health on children's developmental status at ages 4-7 years. Our aim was to determine the contribution of maternal, fetal and neonatal health to developmental status at ages 4-7 years. METHODS In this 7-year follow-up prospective cohort study, a sample of 26,803 mothers participated in the beginning. Among their children, 19,187 voluntarily completed the development screening test or the social life ability survey, which were designed for two different age groups (<6 or ≥ 6 years old, respectively). Logistic regression analysis was used to link the data with the prenatal outcome card and interview questionnaire applied to pregnant women in previous study, to the analysis of various related factors such as demographic, socio-economic, disease and menstrual history, marriage and pregnancy care. RESULT Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used separately in two age groups [4-6 (n = 8439) and 6-7 (n = 10,748) years old] to analyse relative factors. Maternal age of 25-30 years, maternal education of high school and greater, family income and not drinking during pregnancy were associated with higher scores in development. CONCLUSION Both preconception and pregnancy health education and health care are the important maternal factors closely associated with children's cognitive and social competence. Public health policies for preconception care and public welfare for high-quality childcare are essential for improving children's life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Liu
- Genitalia Hygiene Research Center, Jiangsu Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Nanjing, China
| | - X-N Li
- Child Health Care Department, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - X-R Sun
- Genitalia Hygiene Research Center, Jiangsu Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Nanjing, China
| | - Q-L Liu
- Genitalia Hygiene Research Center, Jiangsu Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Nanjing, China
| | - S-W Zha
- Genitalia Hygiene Research Center, Jiangsu Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Nanjing, China
| | - Y-H Chen
- Child Health Care Department, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - C-T Mao
- Child Health Care Department, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - X-Y Xu
- Genitalia Hygiene Research Center, Jiangsu Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Nanjing, China
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How do emotional restrictions affect the use of humor? A behavior genetic analysis of alexithymia and humor styles. Twin Res Hum Genet 2015; 18:138-41. [PMID: 25673092 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2014.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This article reports the first behavioral genetic study of relationships between alexithymia and four styles of humor: affiliative, self-enhancing, self-defeating, and aggressive. A total of 509 MZ pairs and 264 DZ pairs of twins completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) and the Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ). Consistent with our predictions, alexithymia correlated negatively with affiliative and self-enhancing humor and positively with self-defeating and aggressive humor. All but one of the 16 phenotypic correlations that we report are significant at the 0.01 level. Also consistent with our predictions, the phenotypic correlations between alexithymia and humor styles were primarily attributable to correlated genetic factors and to a lesser extent to correlated non-shared environmental factors. Correlated shared environmental factors had no significant effect. Implications and limitations of this study are discussed.
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Bøen E, Westlye LT, Elvsåshagen T, Hummelen B, Hol PK, Boye B, Andersson S, Karterud S, Malt UF. Regional cortical thinning may be a biological marker for borderline personality disorder. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2014; 130:193-204. [PMID: 24571788 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated cerebral cortical thickness and its relation to measurements of difficulties with identifying and describing emotions in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). METHOD Eighteen SCID-II-diagnosed female patients with BPD and 21 healthy female controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging and completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). First, regional cortical thickness across the cerebral surface was compared between patients and healthy controls. Then, analyses of the association between cortical thickness and TAS subscales were performed in patients. RESULTS Compared with controls, patients exhibited clusters of significantly reduced cortical thickness in the left medial and lateral prefrontal cortex, left temporoparietal junction, bilateral temporal poles, and bilateral paracentral lobules. Significant negative associations were observed between cortical thickness and the 'Difficulties Describing Feelings' TAS subscale (DDF) scores in patients. The anatomical distribution of these associations was highly overlapping with the group differences in cortical thickness. CONCLUSION The pattern of regions exhibiting cortical thinning in patients resembles a network of cortical structures repeatedly shown to be involved in social cognition. The results of the DDF analyses suggest that the thinning may partly be related to interpersonal dysfunction in patients with BPD. The pattern of thinning may represent a potential biological marker for BPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bøen
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Research Network on Mood Disorders (NORMOOD), Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Theorell TP, Lennartsson AK, Mosing MA, Ullén F. Musical activity and emotional competence - a twin study. Front Psychol 2014; 5:774. [PMID: 25076933 PMCID: PMC4100574 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothesis was tested that musical activities may contribute to the prevention of alexithymia. We tested whether musical creative achievement and musical practice are associated with lower alexithymia. 8000 Swedish twins aged 27–54 were studied. Alexithymia was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. Musical achievement was rated on a 7-graded scale. Participants estimated number of hours of music practice during different ages throughout life. A total life estimation of number of accumulated hours was made. They were also asked about ensemble playing. In addition, twin modelling was used to explore the genetic architecture of the relation between musical practice and alexithymia. Alexithymia was negatively associated with (i) musical creative achievement, (ii) having played a musical instrument as compared to never having played, and – for the subsample of participants that had played an instrument – (iii) total hours of musical training (r = -0.12 in men and -0.10 in women). Ensemble playing added significant variance. Twin modelling showed that alexithymia had a moderate heritability of 36% and that the association with musical practice could be explained by shared genetic influences. Associations between musical training and alexithymia remained significant when controlling for education, depression, and intelligence. Musical achievement and musical practice are associated with lower levels of alexithymia in both men and women. Musical engagement thus appears to be associated with higher emotional competence, although effect sizes are small. The association between musical training and alexithymia appears to be entirely genetically mediated, suggesting genetic pleiotropy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Töres P Theorell
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute Stockholm, Sweden ; Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden
| | | | - Miriam A Mosing
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Ullén
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute Stockholm, Sweden
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A Behavioral Genetic Analysis of Alexithymia and the Dark Triad Traits of Personality. Twin Res Hum Genet 2013; 16:690-7. [DOI: 10.1017/thg.2013.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The present study is the first to assess phenotypic correlations between alexithymia and the Dark Triad traits of personality in a community sample, as well as the common genetic and environmental factors underlying these correlations. Participants were 232 North American adult twin pairs who completed the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale, the MACH-IV, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Results revealed that alexithymia correlates significantly and positively with psychopathy and Machiavellianism, and negatively with narcissism. Subsequent bivariate behavioral genetic analysis demonstrated that these phenotypic correlations were primarily attributable to common genetic and common non-shared environmental factors. The implication of these findings regarding the maladaptive functions of alexithymia within the antisocial realm of behavior and the need for replication are discussed.
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