Interoception and Mental Health

Interoception is crucial for human health as it constitutes the afferent component of the brain-body feedback loop that is essential for maintaining physiological equilibrium. Disruption in interoceptive processes is increasingly recognized as a common thread across numerous psychiatric disorders, suggesting that enhanced understanding and targeting of interoceptive dysfunction may aid in improving the diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of those conditions. This chapter systematically explores the continuum of interoception in health and disease, from the manifestation of psychiatric disorders to states of optimal health and well-being. We identify and discuss prevailing gaps in current research and introduce key methodologies capable of bridging these gaps via mechanistic studies. Finally, with an eye toward current global challenges, we examine the potential mental health consequences of climate change and other environmental stressors, highlighting the need for further inquiry into how these factors intersect with interoceptive processes. This comprehensive synthesis aims not only to provide a foundational framework for understanding the role of interoception in mental health but also to catalyze the development of mechanism-driven clinical research in the emerging domain of interoceptive neuroscience.