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What does the Toronto Alexithymia Scale TAS-R measure?
W Rief1, J Heuser, M M Fichter
1Roseneck Hospital-Center for Behavioral Medicine, Prien a.Ch., Germany.
Journal of Clinical Psychology
|July 1, 1996
Summary
Alexithymia, the inability to identify and describe emotions, is linked to somatoform symptoms. However, this connection diminishes when accounting for depression, suggesting alexithymia may reflect general distress or depressive traits.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Alexithymia is characterized by difficulty identifying and describing feelings.
- Previous research suggests a link between alexithymia and somatization.
- The Toronto Alexithymia Scale Revised (TAS-R) is a common measure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between alexithymia and somatoform symptoms in psychosomatic inpatients.
- To explore the influence of depression on the alexithymia-somatization link.
- To assess the validity of TAS-R factors in relation to emotional expression and thinking styles.
Main Methods:
- 174 psychosomatic inpatients were assessed using the TAS-R.
- Participants also completed measures of emotionality, somatization, psychopathology, and personality.
- Statistical analyses were performed to examine associations between variables.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between TAS-R alexithymia and the number of somatoform symptoms.
- This association disappeared after correcting for depression.
- TAS-R Factor 1 (describing feelings) correlated with increased use of negative emotional words, not decreased use.
- The validity of TAS-R Factor 2 (externally oriented thinking) appeared low.
Conclusions:
- Alexithymia's association with somatoform symptoms may be largely explained by underlying depression.
- Individuals with alexithymia may use more negative emotional words, contrary to expectations.
- The TAS-R might capture aspects of depression or general distress rather than a distinct alexithymia construct.