Is there a coleration between alexithymia and frontal lobe dysfunction?

Abstract

Background and aims:

According to Sifneos criteria alexithymia is the disability for one person to express and identify emotions. In this study we investigate the possibility of a cerebral localization for alexithymia.

Methods:

We examined 12 patients, 6 men and 6 women, with characteristic alexithymia symptomatology by a complete neurological, neurophysiological (24-hours EEG registration) control and biochemical tests.

We recorded. Compared between them and estimated the results according to a healthy population.

Results:

In all alexithymic patients there were certified significant pathological neurophysiological findings, mostly dysrhythmic epileptoform unloadings in frontal lobe ambilateral. In 9 of 12 patients there were increased amounts of prolactine and homocysteine. All of the patients with alexithymia had limitated REM stage during the hypnogram.

Conclusions:

The results show clearly a cerebral dysfunction of frontal lobe in patients with alexithymia. This fact and the fact that prolactine and homocysteine were increased, can inform us that we have the possibility of an organic dysfunction with genetic disposition.