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Touch aversion in patients with interpersonal traumatization
Author(s) -
Strauss Timmy,
Rottstädt Fabian,
Sailer Uta,
Schellong Julia,
Hamilton J. Paul,
Raue Claudia,
Weidner Kerstin,
Croy Ilona
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.22914
Subject(s) - interpersonal communication , psychology , arousal , interpersonal relationship , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , neuroscience , social psychology
Background Interpersonal touch is a key aspect of human interaction and a usually very comforting experience. For patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) caused by interpersonal traumatization, such touch is affectively ambiguous. Methods In two studies, we investigated the experience and neural processing of various types of interpersonal and impersonal touch in patients as compared with healthy controls. Results Patients strongly disliked show, interpersonal skin‐to‐skin stroking, while controls appreciated this kind of touch. No group differences were observed for ratings of impersonal touch. Similarly, the neural activation differed between groups for interpersonal, but not for impersonal touch. The interpersonal touch aversion in patients was accompanied by enhanced blood–oxygen‐level‐dependent response in the superior temporal gyrus and by a pronounced reduction of response in the hippocampus. This reduction was significantly correlated to symptoms of negative alterations and arousal within the patients. Conclusion We interpret the hippocampal suppression as an attempt to control traumatic memories, evoked by interpersonal touch. This mechanism may maintain the aversion of interpersonal touch in patients with interpersonal trauma‐related PTSD.