[Fourier analysis of pupil oscillations for measuring central activation in psychosomatic patients]

The aim of the study was to answer the question if there are any differences in the central activation of different groups of psychosomatic patients and patients with eating disorders, which was measured by means of Fourier analysis of pupillary oscillations. A total of 132 patients (110 f, 22 m) with a mean age of 29.69 years (standard deviation: 9.9) participated in the study. In anorectic and bulimic patients high central activation was observed. Different groups of psychosomatic patients showed significant differences in their central nervous activation. In the group of subjects with the ICD-10 diagnosis F 41.3 (mixed anxiety disorders) the highest amplitudes was observed not only in the particular frequency bands but also in the total spectrum (power), which reflects high central activation. Reduced activation was found in subjects with somatoform autonomic function disorder of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract (F 45.3). The measurement of central activation in psychosomatic disorders could have consequences for therapeutic interventions.