Low oxytocin levels are related to alexithymia in anorexia nervosa

Objective Anorexia nervosa is associated with social‐emotional functioning deficits and low levels of the social neurohormone oxytocin, even after weight gain. The relationship between low oxytocin levels and social‐emotional functioning impairment has not been studied. Method We performed a cross‐s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The International journal of eating disorders 2017-11, Vol.50 (11), p.1332-1338
Main Authors: Schmelkin, Cindy, Plessow, Franziska, Thomas, Jennifer J., Gray, Emily K., Marengi, Dean A., Pulumo, Reitumetse, Silva, Lisseth, Miller, Karen K., Hadjikhani, Nouchine, Franko, Debra L., Eddy, Kamryn T., Lawson, Elizabeth A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Affective Symptoms - etiology
Affective Symptoms - psychology
Alexithymia
Anorexia
anorexia nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa - psychology
Bulimia
Eating disorders
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
oxytocin
Oxytocin - metabolism
social‐emotional functioning
Young Adult
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Summary:Objective Anorexia nervosa is associated with social‐emotional functioning deficits and low levels of the social neurohormone oxytocin, even after weight gain. The relationship between low oxytocin levels and social‐emotional functioning impairment has not been studied. Method We performed a cross‐sectional study of 79 women (19 who were less than 85% of ideal body weight [IBW] with anorexia nervosa [AN], 26 who were 90–120% IBW with a history of AN [AN‐WR], and 34 who were 90–120% IBW with no eating disorder history [H]). We administered the Eating Disorder Examination–Questionnaire (EDE‐Q), Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale–Self Report (LSAS‐SR), Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology–Basic Questionnaire (DAPP‐BQ; suspiciousness and insecure attachment subscales), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS‐20). We also analyzed fasting serum oxytocin levels. Results Most measures of social‐emotional functioning showed impairment in women with AN and AN‐WR compared to H. Oxytocin levels were low in AN‐WR compared to H. Across groups, low oxytocin levels were associated with difficulty identifying feelings (r = −.45, p = .008) and overall alexithymia (r = −.34, p = .0489). Discussion We speculate that low oxytocin levels may contribute to alexithymia in women with anorexia nervosa.
ISSN:0276-3478
1098-108X
DOI:10.1002/eat.22784