title: Criterion-related validity of diagnostic criteria for alexithymia in a general hospital psychiatric setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnostic criteria for alexithymia (DCA) was proposed by Fava et al. in 1995. The purpose of this study was to examine the criterion-related validity of the DCA in a general hospital psychiatric setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects included 126 outpatients with psychiatric disturbance. The severity of alexithymic characteristics was assessed using the DCA and Beth Israel Hospital Psychosomatic Questionnaire (BIQ). Two Japanese versions of the 26-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26) and Minnesota Multiphasic. Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) were administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DCA had relatively high sensitivity and specificity, indicating adequate discriminant validity. The discriminant validity of the DCA was also supported by significant associations of the DCA with the TAS-26 and MMPI-2. These results indicate that when used for screening, the DCA has adequate criterion-related validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DCA may be clinically useful in a general hospital psychiatric setting.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, Japan.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fukunishi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hosaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Azekawa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyaoka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D015203:Reproducibility of Results