The stability of alexithymia in depressed patients

The stability of alexithymia as measured by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) and its relationship to depression were investigated in 50 depressed inpatients. The test-retest coefficient for TAS over a 5-day period was 0.57 (p < 0.001). A reliable change index for depressed mood indicated that mood covaried with the TAS, but changes in TAS were not clinically significant. The data support alexithymia as a stable personality construct.