How is alexithymia formally assessed?
In the clinical test, a consultant psychiatrist assesses and evaluates a person’s responses to key questions during interview. There are various test questionnaires. The Beth Israel Questionnaire is still the benchmark for the psychiatric version of the concept. The assessor should have formal psychiatric training in affective disorders. The ratings are subjective; hence it is unsuitable for the purposes of objective scientific research. The 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) self-report questionnaire is by far the most popular measure for use in psychological studies because it is a well-validated and consistent data-collection device. Although people who score highly on the scale are more likely to exhibit the psychiatric syndrome, the questionnaire does not constitute a diagnostic tool. The TAS-20 questionnaire, together with supporting materials, can be ordered for a 35 US dollar copyright fee from http://www.gtaylorpsychiatry.org/research.htm.
