THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOMATOSENSORY AMPLIFICATION, ALEXITHYMIA, AND NEUROTICISM

Both amplification of normal visceral phenomena and the personality tr ait of alexithymia are factors in the process of somatization, whereby somatic symptoms become metaphors for emotional distress. The relatio nship between these two variables was investigated in 101 psychiatric out-patients. Each subject was administered the Somatosensory Amplific ation Scale (SSA); the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS); the NEO-FFI, w hich measures five personality factors; and the health locus of contro l (HLC). In addition, anxiety and depression were quantitatively measu red. SSA and TAS significantly correlated only in the female subjects. A regression model found neuroticism to contribute the most variance in predicting SSA while TAS did not fit into the model. Amplification is a perceptual element in potentiating somatization, whereas alexithy mia contributes to the cognitive aspects of the process. The role of n euroticism is discussed as a mediating factor.