[Alexithymia in a clinical sample].
OBJECTIVE
The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), is currently the most widely used measure of alexithymia. An alternative measure of alexithymic characteristics is the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS). Aim of the study was to investigate, wether LEAS and TAS-20 scores are associated with interpersonal problems, sociodemografic variables, and psychological strain in a construct conform direction.


METHODS
146 psychosomatically ill in-patients completed the TAS-20, the LEAS, the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R) and the inventory for the assessment of interpersonal problems (IIP-D).


RESULTS
Low emotional awareness (LEAS) was associated with male gender, absence of a stable partnership and low educational level. In contrast to LEAS, TAS-20 was significantly correlated with the majority of the SCL-90-R and IIP scales.


CONCLUSIONS
The correlations between TAS-20 and IIP scales may be an indication for the validity of the measurement. The association between low emotional awareness and sociodemografic variables are costructconform and indicate a strong relationship between LEAS and variables, that represent real life.
Simson
Udo
U
Klinisches Institut für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf. simson@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Martin
Katarina
K
Schäfer
Ralf
R
Janssen
Paul
P
Franz
Matthias
M
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors