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Somatization tendencies and ability to detect internal body cues
R M Gardner1, J A Morrell, T A Ostrowski
1Department of Psychology, University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo 81001.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|October 1, 1990
Summary
Individuals with higher somatization tendencies, a measure of bodily distress, showed a reduced ability to detect breathing load. This suggests a potential link between heightened bodily symptom awareness and respiratory sensory perception challenges, relevant to somatoform disorders.
Area of Science:
- Psychophysiology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Somatization involves experiencing distressing bodily symptoms.
- Accurate perception of respiratory loads is crucial for maintaining breathing control.
- Previous research has not fully explored the link between somatization and respiratory sensory perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between somatization tendencies and the ability to detect respiratory resistive loads.
- To explore potential psychophysiological mechanisms underlying somatoform disorders.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-nine healthy subjects participated in the study.
- Participants performed a task requiring detection of inspiratory resistive loads.
- Somatization tendencies were assessed using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) test.
- Signal-detection analysis was employed to evaluate performance.
Main Results:
- An inverse relationship was observed between the ability to detect inspiratory resistive loads and somatization scores.
- Higher somatization scores correlated with a decreased ability to perceive added breathing resistance.
Conclusions:
- Somatization tendencies may impair the perception of respiratory loads.
- Findings suggest altered sensory processing in individuals with high somatization.
- This research offers insights into the pathophysiology of somatoform disorders.