Toronto alexithymia scale tas20 association for contextual. The tas 20 has a threefactor structure haviland and reise 1996. Alexithymia is a subclinical phenomenon involving a lack of emotional awareness or, more specifically, difficulty in identifying and describing feelings and in distinguishing feelings from the bodily sensations of emotional arousal nemiah et al. Bagby and colleagues developed the 20item toronto alexithymia scale tas20 10,11, which has become the most widely and frequently used instrument to assess the alexithymia construct 12. The alexithymia questionnaires used in clinical research tas20, bvaq arent available online, so i took the online alexithymia questionnaire oaqg2. It was hypothesized that the tas 20 should be related to a lower use of emotion words and fewer references to social processes. Age and gender effect on alexithymia in large, japanese. Alexithymia was measured by using the italian version of the toronto alexithymia scale tas20. A psychometric comparison of the tas20 and the oas 1 a psychometric comparison of the toronto alexithymia scale tas20 and the observer alexithymia scale oas in an alcohol dependent sample fred arne thorberg, m. Factor l assesses the capacity to identify feelings and to distinguish between feelings and the bodily. Impaired emotion recognition is linked to alexithymia in. The twenty item toronto alexithymia scale tas20 after a revised edition to the tas, a twentyitem version was devised. In this study we investigate the relation between alexithymia, which refers to problems in verbalizing and regulating affects, and representations of others.
Alexithymia and distress tolerance social determinants of health, vol. The 20 item toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 the tas 20 is the most widely used assessment model and is a selfreport instrument consisting of 20 items to be rated on a fivepoint likert scale taylor et al. Item selection and crossvalidation of the factor structure article pdf available in journal of psychosomatic research 381. The construct validity of alexithymia and its assessment using the 20 item toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 in japan is unknown. Padua university, 2department of general psychology, padua university, padova, italy introduction. Psychometric properties of the 20item toronto alexithymia scale in a group of italian younger adolescents. The toronto alexithymia scale tas20 is a 20item selfadministered questionnaire that includes three subscales. The 20 item toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 is a selfreport scale used to measure alexithymia. Knowledge about which alexithymia domains are the most affected ones in ocd dimensions could inform clinical practice, suggesting the need for the introduction of psychotherapeutic interventions targeting alexithymia deficits. Individuals are considered as showing pathological levels of alexithymia if their score is 61 or above.
Schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders is typically regarded as a neurocognitive disorder, which suggests that emotional disturbances reflect. Reliability and validity of the 20item toronto alexithymia. Based on factor analytic work, the 20 items that compose the tas20 are organized into 3 factor scalesdifficulty identifying feelings dif. The tas20 has a threefactor structure haviland and reise 1996. Psychometric properties of the 20 item toronto alexithymia scale in a group of italian younger adolescents. The 20item toronto alexithymia scale tas20 selfreport questionnaire is by far the most popular measure for use in psychological studies because it is a wellvalidated and consistent datacollection device. The tas20 is primarily focused on the cognitive dimensions of. Jul 27, 20 a few studies have assessed alexithymia using projective measures. The toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 is a 20 item selfadministered questionnaire that includes three subscales. Although people who score highly on the scale are more likely to have certain kinds of psychiatric problem, they may well have none at all. A psychometric comparison of the tas 20 and the oas 1 a psychometric comparison of the toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 and the observer alexithymia scale oas in an alcohol dependent sample fred arne thorberg, m. Alexithymia was assessed utilizing the toronto alexithymia scale tas 20. Alexithymia and its relationships with dissociative. The total alexithymia score is the sum of responses to all 20 items, while the score for each subscale factor is the sum of the responses to that subscale.
The tas 20 has been validated in males and females, clinical and nonclinical samples, and crossculturally in over 19 different countries. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation model confirmed that. Low reliability has been found for the third factor of the tas 20 in some cultures, and the factor structure for psychosomatic disorder patients has not been adequately investigated. The tas20 has been translated adequately into 18 different languages and evaluated by cfa in 19 different countries.
Validation of a greek adaptation of the 20item toronto. This paper describes a study that further evaluated the construct. The toronto alexithymia scale is a measure of deficiency in understanding, processing, or describing emotions. Construct validity of the 20item toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 was investigated by analyzing natural language use. Cross cultural validation of a chinese translation of the 20item toronto alexithymia scale. It was developed in 1986 and later revised, removing some of the items. Alexithymia was assessed by the hebrew translated version 29 of the toronto alexithymia scale20 tas 20. Toronto alexithymia scale tas20 confused what emotion scale scale to rate how strongly the subject agrees or disagrees that heshe is often confused by what emotion heshe is feeling, as part of the toronto alexithymia scale tas20.
I have mixed and contradictory feelings, which are difficult to distinguish from each other. In our sample, cronbachs alpha for the tas20 scale was 0. Toronto alexithymia scale20 tas20 the tas20 b agby et al. Psychometric properties of the 20item toronto alexithymia. It is a 20 item selfreport instrument rated on a 5point likertype scale ranging from 1 strongly disagree to 5 strongly agree. The tas 20 has demonstrated good internal consistency and testretest reliability.
The 20item toronto alexithymia scale tas20 is a selfreport scale used to measure alexithymia. Altogether 3083 unselected subjects aged 30 and older in finland completed the 20item toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 in the longitudinal health 2000 and health 2011 general. Reliability and factorial validity in a community population article pdf available in journal of psychosomatic research 553. Subjective and autonomic stress responses in alexithymia. Toronto alexithymia scale tas20 alexithymia was measured using the 20item tas20, the most widely used measure of alexithymia parker et al. Twofactor solution of the 20ltem toronto alexithymia scale. Poor attention has been dedicated to the relation between alexithymia and specific ocd symptoms dimensions. This scale had a strong support for its reliability and factorial validity 25.
Psychometric properties of the 20item toronto alexithymia scale in younger, middle, and older adolescents. Please answer the following questions, using the scale provided. Alexithymia, impulsiveness, and psychopathology in. The toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 24, a 20item questionnaire used to assess the level of alexithymia. The current version has twenty statements rated on a fivepoint likert scale. The current study aimed to investigate which ocd symptom. Alexithymia was assessed by the 20 item toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 to assess the severity of alexithymia, 14. Using the scale provided as a guide, indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. A psychometric comparison of the toronto alexithymia scale. Alexithymia and its relationships with anxiety and depression in eating disorders created date. Toronto alexithymia scale 20 tas 20 the tas 20 b agby et al. The tas 20 consists of 20 items rated on a fivepoint likert scale, assessing the different aspects of alexithymia. The 20 item toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 is a selfreport questionnaire designed to measure the three components of alexithymia. Alexithymia is not classified as a mental disorder in the dsm iv.
A previous paper described the development of the twentyitem toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 and reported preliminary evidence of reliability and factorial validity of the scale. The tas20 demonstrated good internal consistency and testretest reliability, and a threefactor structure theoretically congruent with the alexithymia construct. The tas20 consists of 20 items rated on a fivepoint likert scale, assessing the different aspects of alexithymia. Mmpi alexithymia scale and many others, but they all lack adequate reliability andor validity2. Researchaffect school for chronic benign pain patients showed. Individuals are considered as showing pathological levels of alexithymia if. You have to answer at least 20 to get a result, meaning you can skip any you find overly invasive. The tas20 has demonstrated good internal consistency and testretest reliability. Instead, this tas20 scale seems to evaluate aspects of social shame. Psychometric properties of the toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 for substance users. A persons alexithymia score can be measured with questionnaires such as the toronto alexithymia scale tas20, the bermondvorst alexithymia questionnaire bvaq or the observer alexithymia scale oas. The tas 20 is a selfreport questionnaire which examines the main features of. Nonsuicidal selfinjury nssi is a multifaceted phenomenon and. Alexithymia, suicidal ideation, and serum lipid levels among.
The twenty item toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 after a revised edition to the tas, a twentyitem version was devised. Alexithymia and its relationships with anxiety and depression. Tas20 proved to be a reliable scale to measure alexithymia. The twentyitem toronto alexithymia scale the twentyitem toronto alexithymia scale tas20 was developed by bagby et al. The toronto alexithymia scale tas20 is a 20item, selfadministered questionnaire that includes three subscales. The 20item toronto alexithymia scale tas20 the tas20 is the most widely used assessment model and is a selfreport instrument consisting of 20 items to be rated on a fivepoint likert scale taylor et al. Item selection and crossvalidation of the factor structure. The toronto alexithymia scale tas, taylor, ryan and bagby, 1985 has been identified as the most popular measure of alexithymia given the. The majority of research on the relationship between alexithymia and alcoholdependence has employed the selfadministered toronto alexithymia scale tas 20. The twentyitem toronto alexithymia scale the twentyitem toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 was developed by bagby et al. The relationship between alexithymia, anxiety, depression. Researchaffect school for chronic benign pain patients.
Psychometric properties of the toronto alexithymia scale tas20 for substance users. Cleland c1, magura s, foote j, rosenblum a, kosanke n. Study of alexithymia among people with low distress. It is a personality trait that varies in severity from person to person. Motivation and emotionbook2015alexithymia wikiversity. Finding the psychometric properties of the original toronto alexithymia scale to be flawed, developers created the tas20 a revised measure consisting of 20 items divided into three separate factors, or domains of alexithymia. Difficulty describing feelings subscale is used to measure difficulty describing emotions. Toronto alexithymia scale 20 measures database education. Alexithymia was assessed utilizing the toronto alexithymia scale tas20. Psychometric properties of the 20 item toronto alexithymia scale in younger, middle, and older adolescents. Pdf does the 20item toronto alexithymia scale measure.
The 20item toronto alexithymia scale tas20 is a selfreport questionnaire designed to measure the three components of alexithymia. Although alexithymia most likely has certain developmental aspects, this has. Psychometric properties of the toronto alexithymia scale tas. There are two versions one contains the original tas items, the other contains the same. Introduction the twentyitem toronto alexithymia scale tas20 is a selfreport measure of the alexithymia construct that was developed in an attempt to. Toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 alexithymia was measured using the 20 item tas 20, the most widely used measure of alexithymia parker et al. We examine some controversies surrounding the scale and the. Toronto alexithymia scale tas 20, clinician administered ptsd scale caps, dissociative experiences scale des, peritraumatic des pdes, and childhood trauma questionnaire ctq. The observer alexithymia scale oas has also been recommended. Alexithymia is a disturbance associated with psychosomatic disorders, pain syndromes, and a variety of psychiatric disorders. The 20 item toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 is a selfreport measure of alexithymia and is the most widely used measures. Alexithymia, toronto alexithymia scale, difficulty describing feeling, shame. Toronto alexithymia scale tas 20 confused what emotion scale scale to rate how strongly the subject agrees or disagrees that heshe is often confused by what emotion heshe is feeling, as part of the toronto alexithymia scale tas 20.
The tas 20 is primarily focused on the cognitive dimensions of alexithymia and measures three subscales. May 18, 2020 given the high prevalence of alexithymia in alcohol use disorders, valid assessment tools are critical. Twentyitem toronto alexithymia scale tas20 springerlink. The beck scale for suicide ideation ssi,19 a 3point clinicianrated scale with statements of suicidal. Tas is considered to be the best existing measure of. Toronto alexithymia scale tas20 was used for collecting of data. Total scores range from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating higher level of alexithymia. As far as we know, there is only one study evaluating the psychometric properties of the tas 20 in a sample of 12 to 17yearold adolescents in finland. The contribution of alexithymia to obsessivecompulsive.
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