Az alexitímia és a hipnotikus fogékonyság összefüggése — szakirodalmi áttekintés

Theoretical background: Many clinical observations and empirical findings indicate that hypnotic susceptibility and alexithymia have common mechanisms, of which some are convergent while others are divergent. Despite this, just a few publications were found in the literature addressing directly the connection of these two personality constructs. It seems that dissociative tendency, fantasy proneness, empathy, and ability to identify other people’s emotions are essential to alexithymia and hypnotizability. These features, except dissociation, are elements of a broader category, ability for mentalization. Neuroanatomical, neurophysiological and psychogenetic evidence give support to that low hypnotic responsiveness and alexithymia have overlapping correlates in the neuroendocrine and the central
nervous system. Aim: To identify the commonalities between hypnotic susceptibility and alexithymia. Method: A narrative review and analysis of the relevant publications in the literature. Results: Hypnotic responsiveness and alexithymia are both related to dissociation. High hypnotizability is associated to stronger, while low hypnotizability to weaker imaginative involvement and activity. It seems that high hypnotizables/”lexithymics” (nonalexithymics) are better in identifying and responding to their own emotions or to that of other people compared to low hypnotizables/alexithymics. Behind the two personality constructs we identified overlapping, mostly antagonistic neuroendocrine, neurophysiological and psychogenetic mechanisms. Conclusions: Based on the findings in the literature we hypothesize that hypnotizability and alexithymia are related phenomena, but their relationship is not linear. We assume that they are connected through the ability for mentalization and proneness for secondary, defensive dissociation. Mapping of their connection needs further empirical examination. Understanding the relationship between alexithymia and hypnotizability may enhance the effectiveness of hypnotherapeutic interventions for patients with mental or psychosomatic conditions.