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Somatization and Stimulus Entrapment

Somatization and Stimulus Entrapment A “vicious circle” hypothesis is put forward for the common kind of somatization which forms the basis of the DSM 's “somatization disorder.” Two compounding mechanisms are seen to be operative: (1) a failure of higher order inhibitory systems involved in the “medial pain system”; (2) amplification of stimulus intensity produced by the effect of attention. Attentional failure is produced not only by social factors but also by failure of sensory intensity modulation consequent upon (1). The argument focuses on data from borderline patients inwhomthe unusual prominence of pain may be due, at least in part, to incompetence of the “medial pain system.” This is reflected in enlarged P3a components of the event-related potential suggesting diminished inhibitory function involving prefrontal connections. Two studies are briefly presented in summary form suggesting that somatization may be ameliorated by a form of therapy which focuses on “inner” material as a means of overcoming “stimulus entrapment.” http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis & Dynamic Psychiatry Guilford Press

Somatization and Stimulus Entrapment

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References (73)

Publisher
Guilford Press
Copyright
© The American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry
ISSN
1546-0371
DOI
10.1521/jaap.2008.36.1.165
pmid
18399752
Publisher site
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Abstract

A “vicious circle” hypothesis is put forward for the common kind of somatization which forms the basis of the DSM 's “somatization disorder.” Two compounding mechanisms are seen to be operative: (1) a failure of higher order inhibitory systems involved in the “medial pain system”; (2) amplification of stimulus intensity produced by the effect of attention. Attentional failure is produced not only by social factors but also by failure of sensory intensity modulation consequent upon (1). The argument focuses on data from borderline patients inwhomthe unusual prominence of pain may be due, at least in part, to incompetence of the “medial pain system.” This is reflected in enlarged P3a components of the event-related potential suggesting diminished inhibitory function involving prefrontal connections. Two studies are briefly presented in summary form suggesting that somatization may be ameliorated by a form of therapy which focuses on “inner” material as a means of overcoming “stimulus entrapment.”

Journal

Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis & Dynamic Psychiatry – Guilford Press

Published: Mar 1, 2008

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