Listening to the Body: Is Interoception an Important Treatment Target for PTSD?

Interoception, one’s awareness of internal bodily cues, is thought to play a key role in the development and maintenance of a range of psychological disorders and has been increasingly incorporated into psychological interventions for these. This article discusses whether targeting interoception is important in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We examine the extent to which interoceptive deficits are prevalent in individuals with PTSD, the effectiveness of interoception as a treatment target in current psychological interventions for PTSD and consider the practical implications of targeting interoception in this population.