Alexithymia in the eating disorders.
Eating disorder patients appear to have high degrees of alexithymia, a diminished capability to verbally describe feelings, although little data exist. We administered the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) to 114 females with DSM-III-R defined eating disorders. Patients, regardless of subtype, scored significantly higher than 370 college-aged females. TAS scores were significantly correlated to self-ratings of affective symptoms, but not weight or binge-purge frequency.
Cochrane
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CE
Institute of Psychiatry Eating Disorders, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-0742.
Brewerton
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TD
Wilson
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DB
Hodges
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EL
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D015897:Comorbidity; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales