Page 1 of 1 [ 5 posts ] 

JadedMantis
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 1 Apr 2009
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Posts: 146
Location: South Africa

18 Feb 2010, 5:09 am

With all the uproar from some around the proposed DSM-V I found myself wondering if some of the people that have been given a diagnosis of AS while not meeting strict DSM-IV criteria may in fact have Alexithymia?
There is a lot of similarity between the two.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2092499/

I have seen studies that have found a much larger incidence of Alexithymia among those with AS but it is not universal.

"Whereas Asperger's syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder, Alexithymia may be more of a personality trait."

Quote:
Despite the apparent overlap between the disorders, aetiological differences may exist. One point of difference may lie in the genetic and neurochemical underpinnings of the disorders. Although not conclusive, a number of studies have indicated an association between polymorphisms of the Serotonin transporter gene and Autism Spectrum Disorder (Cook et al., 1997; Kim et al., 2002). By contrast associations with polymorphisms of the dopamine system have not been reliably identified in Autism Spectrum Disorders. In a recent study Ham et al. (2005) reported an association between the catechol-O-methyltransferase Val 108/158Met polymorphism and Alexithymia. Interestingly, an association was reported with the Valine allele which is associated with lowered prefrontal dopamine tone and is also thought to confer a small amount of risk to schizophrenia (Egan et al., 2001). In contrast to Autism Spectrum Disorders, Ham et al. did not report any association between Alexithymia and polymorphisms of the Serotonin transporter gene. These very preliminary findings suggest a greater involvement of the dopamine system in Alexithymia and the Serotonin system in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Other points of difference between the disorder lie in the greater tendency on the part of persons with Alexithymia, relative to those with Asperger's disorder, to alcohol abuse, psychosomatic complaints and social conformity. Alexithymia has also been seen as a response to chronic illness.



lotusblossom
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Age: 45
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,994

18 Feb 2010, 5:38 am

you could be right, but I cant think of any way you would be able to find out.

I score highly for Alexithymia and I definately think it is that rather than the AS which causes my relationship/social problems (esp with NTs) as they are so frustrated with my inability to read their feelings and in the strange way I conduct my own feelings.

I think people are more tollerant about my AS stuff such as flapping and lining things up and just view it as 'cute' or weird but they find my inability to read or respond to their emotional messages and my cold/grumpy/aloofness extremely annoying.

Ive had several boyfriends be very frustrated at me not being able to explain my feelings or why Im upset about things and it was definately my lack of emotional ability which led to the 'falling apart' of the relationship.



pensieve
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Nov 2008
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Posts: 8,204
Location: Sydney, Australia

18 Feb 2010, 5:43 am

Alexithymia is just what doctors name people if they can't explain how they are feeling. You can't really be diagnosed with it.
I scored really high on the test. I can't express my feelings but I am aware of what feelings I am having at the time.
People could have both AS and Alexithymia.


_________________
My band photography blog - http://lostthroughthelens.wordpress.com/
My personal blog - http://helptheywantmetosocialise.wordpress.com/


JadedMantis
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 1 Apr 2009
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Posts: 146
Location: South Africa

18 Feb 2010, 11:26 am

pensieve wrote:
People could have both AS and Alexithymia.

Yes - I believe I have both. What I can't figure out is if my Alexithymia is innate or if I have picked it up due to traumatic events in my life.

But without Alexithymia available as a diagnosis I just wonder if it is not the cause of some people having been labeled AS without meeting the full criteria. With DSM-V it would be less likely they would get the diagnosis but the Alexithymia is still a pretty serious limitation. Although I suppose it would be easier to compensate for it and learn to overcome it if it was not for the other ASD traits making it harder.



millie
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 25 Oct 2008
Age: 61
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,154

18 Feb 2010, 3:53 pm

I was Alexithymic in th efirst half of my life. I was experiencing rudimentary feelings and extreme feelings, but I could not articulate my feeling AT ALL. I LEARNED how to articulate feelings in an intensive rehab and social/emotional learning program that I was involved in for 1 to 5 years. I still have the same feelings I used to have - rudimentary...(and if I have more complex and subtle feelings these are experienced in isolation from others AND NEVER while relating with others because of multi-tasking processing issues which are part of my AS presentation.)

So in the second half of my life I am far less alexithymic, but the internal emotional landscape remains fairly typical of a woman with an ASD. I also suffer greatly from what Stephen Shore refers to as echoemotica, which is distinct from empathy and actually refers to a kind of emotional blurring with others where I pick up on their feelings and cannot distinguish these from my own without a great deal of cognitive intervention on my part. It is frustrating and painful, and part of the reason I find being around others so incredibly difficult. Any shift in the emotional landscape of a group and I am in a state of pure distress.

Some say autistics blur around the edges and meld with the material world. (thank you to the LabPet and Inventor for explaining this to me some time back. ) That is how it is for me. Where do I begin and end in an emotional and sensory sense, and where does the world begin? It's a delightful yet painful way to live. It can lead to all sorts of wonders and associational explorations, but it also makes living with other humans VERY difficult and stressful.