日本語では「失感情症」などと訳されることがあるが、感情鈍麻や無感動のように「感情の変化を失った状態」という印象をあたえる可能性がありまぎらわしい。あくまで「感情を認知することの障害」である。
Alexithymia is defined by:
- difficulty identifying feelings and distinguishing between feelings and the bodily sensations of emotional arousal
- difficulty describing feelings to other people
- constricted imaginary processes, as evidenced by a paucity of fantasies
- a stimulus-bound, externally oriented cognitive style.
- It is unclear what causes alexithymia, though several theories have been proposed. There is evidence both for a genetic basis, meaning some people are predisposed to develop alexithymia, as well environmental causes.
