The Revised Toronto Alexithymia Scale: some reliability, validity, and normative data

Psychother Psychosom. 1992;57(1-2):34-41. doi: 10.1159/000288571.

Abstract

Addressing certain problems with the compositional structure of the self-report Toronto Alexithymia Scale, this paper reports the development of a revised version of the scale as well as results from a preliminary series of studies evaluating its reliability and validity. The Revised Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-R) demonstrated good internal consistency and a stable and replicable two-factor structure that is congruent with the two major dimensions of the alexithymia construct. Evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for the TAS-R was provided by correlations with measures of other constructs. Criterion validity was demonstrated by the ability of TAS-R scores to discriminate between behavioral medicine outpatients designated alexithymic and those designated non-alexithymic on the basis of clinical interview ratings. Normative data are provided for university student, normal adult, and psychiatric outpatient populations.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affective Symptoms / diagnosis*
  • Affective Symptoms / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychometrics
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / diagnosis
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / psychology
  • Reference Values
  • Somatoform Disorders / diagnosis
  • Somatoform Disorders / psychology