title: Alexithymia in the eating disorders.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry Eating Disorders, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-0742.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cochrane
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Brewerton
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hodges
mesh_terms: 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