title: [Measuring alexithymia in fibromyalgia: the need for a multimodal measurement method to replace the TAS-20].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In an earlier publication that investigated alexithymia in fibromyalgia, we showed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale was the only instrument being used to measure alexithymia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To find out which instruments are currently available for measuring alexithymia, to compare the psychometric properties of these instruments and to decide whether some of the test methods involved should be used to give extra value to alexithymia research.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review of the literature in Medline/PubMed with a number of search terms. We selected articles relating to psychometric properties of the tests performed and decided whether they could be influenced by negative affect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that 14 different instruments were used to measure alexithymia. From our evaluation we excluded tests which had weak psychometric properties or had been inadequately assessed. There remained three observation scales and two self-report questionnaires, which had been adequately validated and whose relative strengths and weaknesses were compared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of these findings, we recommend that in studies of alexithymia in fibromyalgia a multimodal measurement method should be used rather than only the tas-20.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: B G C
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Sabbe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luyten
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beukeleirs
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity