Alexithymia
Advances in Research, Theory, and Clinical Practice

In response to clinical need, this important new book covers in depth the research, theory and clinical issues surrounding alexithymia.

Olivier Luminet (Edited by), R. Michael Bagby (Edited by), Graeme J. Taylor (Edited by)

9781108416641, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 September 2018

372 pages, 2 b/w illus. 10 tables
25.3 x 19.3 x 2.2 cm, 0.97 kg

Alexithymia is a personality trait characterised by difficulty identifying and describing subjective emotional feelings, a restricted imagination, and an externally oriented style of thinking. Individuals with high levels of this trait are at risk of developing several common psychiatric disorders. The concept of alexithymia has evolved considerably over the past twenty years, and this important new work responds to the need for a definitive book on the subject. The research, theory and clinical issues surrounding alexithymia are discussed in depth, examining the psychological, biological and social aspects of the construct and their related outcomes. Featuring contributions from researchers and clinicians in the field of emotion processing and regulation, chapters include methods for assessing and reducing alexithymia, and research findings from diverse fields of scientific enquiry including genetics, neuroimaging studies, emotion regulation, attachment and trauma research, and comorbidities with a number of psychiatric and medical disorders.

List of contributors
Foreword
Preface Mark A. Lumley
Acknowledgements
Part I. History, Assessment, and Cultural Shaping of Alexithymia: 1. History of alexithymia: the contributions of psychoanalysis Graeme J. Taylor
2. Assessment of the alexithymia construct Angela Sekely, R. Michael Bagby and Piero Porcelli
3. The cultural shaping of alexithymia Andrew Ryder, Momoka Sunohara, Jessica Dere and Yulia E. Chentsova-Dutton
Part II. Emotion and Cognitive Processing: 4. Emotion knowledge and emotion regulation in alexithymia Olivier Luminet and Giorgia Zamariola
5. Memory and executive functions in alexithymia Nicolas Vermeulen, Irena Domachowska and Kristy A. Nielson
6. Language processing in alexithymia Carlotta Welding and Dalya Samur
Part III. Clinical Issues and Somatic and Psychiatric Pathology: 7. Alexithymia and physical illness Piero Porcelli and Graeme J. Taylor
8. Attachment, trauma, and alexithymia Adriano Schimmenti and Vincenzo Caretti
9. Relations between alexithymia and depressive and anxiety disorders and personality Kirsi Honkalampi, Domenico De Berardis, Federica Vellante and Heimo Viinamäki
10. Alexithymia and maladaptive regulatory behaviors in substance use disorders and eating disorders Kristen P. Morie and Nathan Ridout
11. Social and interpersonal implications of alexithymia Delphine Grynberg, Sylvie Berthoz and Geoffrey Bird
12. Therapeutic issues John S. Ogrodniczuk, David Kealy, George A. Hadjipavlou and Kristjana Cameron
Part IV. Biological Considerations: 13. Neuroimaging studies of alexithymia Katharina S. Goerlich and André Aleman
14. Electrophysiology of alexithymia Katharina S. Goerlich
15. Genetic factors and endocrine and immune system functioning associated with alexithymia Michiko Kano, Hans Jörgen Grabe and Jan Terock
16. Processing emotions in alexithymia: a systematic review of physiological markers Georgia Panayiotou, Maria Panteli and Elke Vlemincx
17. Alexithymia and body awareness Olga Pollatos and Beate M. Herbert
18. Conclusions and future directions Graeme J. Taylor, R. Michael Bagby and Olivier Luminet
Index.

Subject Areas: Clinical psychology [MMJ], Psychiatry [MMH]