Opinion: Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) or Endocrine Disorder?
6 Pages Posted: 14 Aug 2017 Last revised: 15 Aug 2017
Date Written: August 15, 2017
Abstract
The title of this article refers to a variation on human temperament and sensory processing—an overarching kind of sensitivity called sensory processing sensitivity or SPS—that was first described in psychology research in the 1990s.
The SPS construct emerged from a series of questionnaire studies, the results of which are summarized in the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Scale, which generally describes altered stress reactivity and heightened processing of environmental features including light, sound, and other visual and social information.
Research efforts have most recently been focused on the genetics of SPS, looking mainly at variation related to the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems.
This article encourages additional consideration of genetic variation associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance, and hormones such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), elevations of which can be seen in PCOS.
At least for some women who self-identify as HSPs, it may be worthwhile to consider a link to PCOS.
Keywords: Chronic stress, Highly sensitive person, Hyperandrogenism, Hyperinsulinemia, Polycystic ovary syndrome, Sensory processing sensitivity
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