Development of an Analog Alexithymia Scale. Testing in a nonpatient population

The present study describes a new self-administered Analog Alexithymia Scale (AAS). A nonpatient sample representing a broad range of ages and socioeconomic groups was used. Scores were normally distributed with 6.8% of subjects in the alexithymic range. Retest reliability was encouraging. The correlation between the AAS and the Schalling-Sifneos Personality Scale was low. Validity has not been established for either test. Factor analyses suggest distinct clinical components, the differentiation of which might facilitate understanding of the psychologic and neurophysiologic underpinnings of alexithymia. There is a need for a clinical standard for validating self-administered scales.