The assessment of alexithymia

Kooiman, Cornelis G.; Spinhoven, Philip; Trijsburg, R.W.

doi:10.1016/s0022-3999(02)00348-3

Cited by 339 publications

(135 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Similar or even higher magnitude correlations between the TAS-20 EOT factor scale and the TSIA and its domain and facet scales were reported in the validation studies with Canadian and German clinical samples and with the Italian mixed clinical and nonclinical sam-ple (Bagby et al, 2006;Caretti et al, 2011;Grabe et al, 2009). Given the excellent internal consistency of the EOT facet scale of the TSIA, this may be a much better measure of the externally oriented thinking facet of the alexithymia construct than the EOT factor scale of the TAS-20, which has also demonstrated low internal consistency in many other studies (e.g., Kooiman et al, 2002;Meganck et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…For example, Meganck et al (2008) replicated the three-factor structure and reported internal reliability coefficients that exceeded .70 for the total TAS-20 and the DIF and DDF factors in both student and psychiatric outpatient samples; however, as with several other translations of the TAS-20 (Taylor et al, 2003), Cronbach alpha coefficients were rather low for the EOT factor (.56 in the psychiatric sample and .53 in the student sample). Kooiman et al (2002) demonstrated that the TAS-20 discriminates well between psychiatric patients and adult non-patients, and has excellent three month retest reliability (r = .74).…”

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Total scores range from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating a greater degree of alexithymia. The Dutch version of the TAS-20 was developed using a translation and back-translation procedure (Kooiman, Spinhoven, & Trijsburg, 2002); its psychometric properties were found to be adequate in clinical and nonclinical samples (Kooiman et al, 2002;Meganck, Vanheule, & Desmet, 2008). For example, Meganck et al (2008) replicated the three-factor structure and reported internal reliability coefficients that exceeded .70 for the total TAS-20 and the DIF and DDF factors in both student and psychiatric outpatient samples; however, as with several other translations of the TAS-20 (Taylor et al, 2003), Cronbach alpha coefficients were rather low for the EOT factor (.56 in the psychiatric sample and .53 in the student sample).…”

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Dutch Language Version of the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia: Reliability, Factor Structure and Concurrent Validity

et al. 2013

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA) in a clinical sample. The TSIA and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) were administered to 85 psychiatric inpatients and to 76 medical outpatients with the symptom of tinnitus. Both internal and inter-rater reliability were acceptable. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the hierarchical, 4-factor structure with 4 lower-order factors nested within 2 higher-order latent factors, previously obtained with English, German, and Italian versions. Concurrent validity was supported by significant correlations between the TSIA and the TAS-20 total scores although there were some differences between the psychiatric subsample and the medical subsample. While further studies are needed to assess the convergent and discriminant validity of the TSIA, the results support its use as a measure of alexithymia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Dutch Language Version of the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia: Reliability, Factor Structure and Concurrent Validity

et al. 2013

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“…In addition, Säkkinen et al (2007) confirmed the three-factor structure in a study of normal adolescents in Finland. Kooiman, Spinhoven, and Trijsburg (2002) have criticized the psychometric properties of TAS-20 but it seems that more problems arise in the use of TAS-20 in clinical samples (such as patients who somatize and psychiatric patients) than in nonclinical samples (as in our study). Our conclusion from the literature is that TAS-20 can be used in normal populations and that there is acceptable correspondence with standardized interview.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Creative Artistic Achievement Is Related to Lower Levels of Alexithymia

Lennartsson

Horwitz

Theorell

et al. 2017

Creativity Research Journal

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Alexithymia is characterized by deficits in the ability to identify, differentiate, and describe emotions-abilities that are of importance for social interactions, well-being, and, consequently, also for health. The aim of this study was to investigate whether achievements in cultural activities are associated with alexithymia. Participants from the Swedish Twin Registry were 2,279 men and 3,152 women in the ages 27 to 54. Cultural achievement was measured with the Creative Achievement Questionnaire (CAQ) in which participants estimate their achievement in the domains writing, music, visual arts, theater, and dance on a 7-point scale. Alexithymia was measured with the Toronto Alexithymia Score (TAS 20). In sex separated, age, and educationadjusted multivariate analyses, nonpractitioners, amateurs, and professionals in the 5 different CAQ domains were compared with regard to alexithymia scores. For both men and women, achievement in writing and music contributed statistically and independently of one another to a low alexithymia score. In addition, achievement in visual arts contributed independently to low alexithymia score in men and achievement in theatre to low alexithymia score in women. Total creative achievement was calculated as a sum score across domains, and the distribution divided into tertile groups. These groups were compared with regard to alexithymia scores. Large tertile differences were found in both sexes. The results show differences between modalities and cumulative effects of multiple creative achievements.

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“…Each subscale has shown adequate internal consistency, with alpha coefficients of 0.78, 0.75, and 0.66, respectively [31]. The TAS-20 has also demonstrated good test-retest reliability in nonpatient samples across cultures [32].…”

Section: Self-report Measuresmentioning

confidence: 98%

Differential Relationships among Facets of Alexithymia and BDNF- and Dopamine-Related Polymorphisms

Koven

Carr²

2012

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Alexithymia refers to a cluster of emotion-related deficits such as difficulty attending to and identifying one's feelings. Although not a diagnosable psychiatric condition, alexithymia is considered a personality risk factor for multiple pathologies, including somatoform, substance use, eating, and mood disorders. Evidence suggests heritability, but few studies have examined the influence of specific genes on alexithymic traits. Candidate genes explored thus far include those involved in modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dopamine, two neurotransmitters whose functions have been implicated in human emotion processing. This study investigated the relationship between the C270T polymorphism of the BDNF gene, facets of alexithymia, and possible interactions with the COMT, DAT1, and ANKK1 genes in a sample of 130 healthy adults. Given the multidimensionality of the alexithymia construct and its overlap with the related constructs of emotional intelligence and mood awareness, we used principal components analysis to derive Clarity of Emotion and Attention to Emotion as specific facets of alexithymia. Results showed that the C270T C/C genotype group had lower Clarity of Emotion scores relative to the C/T genotype group, even after covarying for COMT, DAT1, and ANKK1 genotypes. Dopamine-related genes had no association with alexithymia dimensions, nor did they interact with the C270T polymorphism to predict Clarity of Emotion. Although the molecular mechanisms by which this polymorphism influences BDNF are unknown, this study suggests a role for BDNF in modulating aspects of alexithymia. We discuss these results in the context of BDNF's trophic effects in the nervous system.

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The assessment of alexithymia

Cited by 339 publications

References 37 publications

The Dutch Language Version of the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia: Reliability, Factor Structure and Concurrent Validity

The Dutch Language Version of the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia: Reliability, Factor Structure and Concurrent Validity

Creative Artistic Achievement Is Related to Lower Levels of Alexithymia

Differential Relationships among Facets of Alexithymia and BDNF- and Dopamine-Related Polymorphisms

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