title: Evaluation of constricted affect in chronic pain: an attempt using the Toronto Alexythymia Scale.
abstract: The Toronto Alexythymia Scale (TAS) was applied as a potential measure of constricted affect among a sample of patients with chronic, non-malignant pain (n = 195). As previously demonstrated with non-clinical samples, the scale was found to possess moderate reliability with two principal internal factors. These factors seemed to reflect social introversion and a lack of proneness to fantasy. There was a moderate, negative association between them. The domain sampled by the TAS was apparently heterogeneous, with total scores showing no relationship to reported disability or pain intensity and a low relationship to reported distress. These results suggest potential limitations of the TAS and the alexythymia construct as means for evaluating constricted affect that accompanies chronic pain.
authors.affiliation: Pain Treatment Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Millard
authors.forename: Brett L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kinsler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index