Interoceptive awareness and alexithymia in people with and without traumatic brain injury.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare interoceptive sensibility in participants with and without traumatic brain injury (TBI+ and TBI-, respectively); and explore the relations of interoceptive sensibility domains with alexithymia, psychological distress, and post-traumatic stress outcomes, as well as whether relations were stronger in TBI+ versus TBI- group.

Method: Cross-sectional survey study conducted in adults with TBI+ and TBI-. The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-2) evaluated eight dimensions of interoceptive sensibility, and validated scales assessed alexithymia, psychological distress.

Results: Relative to TBI-, participants with TBI scored lower on three MAIA subscales - Not Distracting, Self-Regulation, and Body Listening. Facets of interoceptive sensibility were associated with alexithymia, psychological distress, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. For two subscales (Attention Regulation, Not Worrying), lower interoceptive sensibility was related to higher psychological symptoms (alexithymia and posttraumatic stress symptoms, respectively) in the TBI+ group relative to the TBI- group.

Conclusion: Individuals with TBI demonstrated lower interoceptive sensibility across multiple domains compared to those without TBI. Lower Attention Regulation and Not Worrying were more strongly associated with alexithymia and posttraumatic stress symptoms, respectively, in those with TBI. Interventions targeting interoceptive sensibility - such as mindfulness-based or somatic-focused therapies - may be beneficial for individuals with TBI to improve psychological well-being.