The association of different interoceptive dimensions with functional gastrointestinal symptoms

J Health Psychol. 2021 Dec;26(14):2801-2810. doi: 10.1177/1359105320929426. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Abstract

The aim of the current cross-sectional studies was to investigate the association of interoceptive dimensions with irritable bowel syndrome-related functional gastrointestinal symptoms using a multimethod approach. Two studies were conducted in Hungarian volunteers. Study 1 involved questionnaires regarding interoceptive sensibility. In Study 2, an experimental task was additionally used for the measurement of interoceptive accuracy.Reporters of high functional gastrointestinal symptoms were characterised by an increased perception of different somatic sensations together with a reduced trust in bodily signals. Our results support the hypothesis that there are interactions between interoceptive dimensions in the production of functional somatic symptoms. A data accessibility statement is included.

Keywords: clinical health psychology; cognitive processing; physical symptoms; quantitative methods; symptoms.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Interoception*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires