May 24, 2024 PRESS RELEASE
Unravelling the Link Between Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Medication Sensitivity
In a ground-breaking series of studies, an international team of researchers has unveiled a significant association between being a highly sensitive person (HSP) and medication sensitivity, shedding light on the intricate interplay between individual traits and prescription drug responses. These findings have far-reaching implications for the field of personalized medicine, promising a more nuanced approach to healthcare.
The studies, conducted by a team led by Dr. Arthur Aron of Stony Brook University in New York, offer a pioneering exploration into the relationship between HSP (known in the academic literature as Sensory Processing Sensitivity)—a temperament trait found in 20-30% of the population, characterized by heightened reactivity to environmental stimuli—and individual differences in medication sensitivity. The findings, published on Jan 16, 2024, in Frontiers in Psychology, mark a significant contribution to the understanding of how medication affects individuals with high sensory processing sensitivity. In an era where personalized and precision medicine (PPM) is gaining prominence, these discoveries pave the way for more targeted and effective treatment strategies for highly sensitive people.
The researchers employed a meticulous methodology across three distinct studies, involving diverse participant groups, differing in age and gender distribution, from university samples and online platforms. Participants completed questionnaires including the standard highly sensitive person (HSP) scale to assess SPS, a medication sensitivity scale, as well as a scale to assess negative emotionality (NE).
The results establish that individuals high in SPS report heightened sensitivity to medication compared to individuals with lower sensory processing sensitivity. This relationship between SPS and medication sensitivity remains the same for men and women, and is found over and above the role of negative emotionality in affecting medication sensitivity. This is a key finding, since, in the past, medication sensitivity has been commonly linked to negative emotionality. These new findings indicate that there is a relationship between high sensitivity and medication sensitivity that is not due to negative emotionality.
Individuals with heightened SPS (HSPs) may experience more intense reactions to medications, providing valuable insights for the prescription and administration of medication in clinical settings.
The study not only identifies increased sensitivity to medication in individuals high in SPS but also offers insights into tailoring medication approaches for highly sensitive individuals in general. Specifically, SPS might be important to investigate in future research and practice when considering medication dosage, medication effectiveness, and adverse drug reactions. Study findings mark a pivotal step toward more personalized and effective medical interventions. Beyond its primary role in understanding individual differences in sensory processing, the HSP scale exhibits promising potential for screening all patients for medication sensitivity, thereby enhancing patient safety and care.
About Frontiers in Psychology:
Frontiers in Psychology is a leading open-access journal that publishes rigorous research across the entire field of psychology. It provides a platform for groundbreaking studies that advance our understanding of the human mind and behavior.
For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
Arthur.Aron@Stonybrook.edu or Jadzia Jagiellowicz, PhD, at drjadzia@highlysensitivesociety.com