Toronto Alexithymia Scale

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Toronto Alexithymia Scale

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About Toronto Alexithymia Scale

Scale Name

Toronto Alexithymia Scale

Author Details

Michael Bagby, James D. A. Parker and Graeme J. Taylor

Translation Availability

Not Sure

Toronto Alexithymia Scale
Toronto Alexithymia Scale

Background/Description

Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by difficulty in identifying and describing feelings, as well as an externally oriented thinking style. It is thought to be a risk factor for a variety of mental and physical health problems, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was developed in 1994 by Bagby, Parker, and Taylor to measure alexithymia. It is a 20-item, self-report questionnaire that is widely used in research and clinical settings.

The TAS-20 has three subscales:

  • Difficulty Identifying Feelings: This subscale measures how difficult it is for the person to identify their own emotions.
  • Difficulty Describing Feelings: This subscale measures how difficult it is for the person to describe their emotions to others.
  • Externally Oriented Thinking: This subscale measures how focused the person is on external stimuli and events, rather than on their own internal thoughts and feelings.

Each item on the TAS-20 is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Five of the items are reverse-scored. The total score for the TAS-20 is calculated by summing the scores for all 20 items.

A higher score on the TAS-20 indicates greater alexithymia. A total score of 61 or higher is considered to be indicative of alexithymia.

The TAS-20 has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of alexithymia. It has been used in numerous research studies and has been shown to be associated with a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and autism spectrum disorder.

The TAS-20 can be used to assess alexithymia in adults and adolescents. It is a relatively short and easy-to-administer questionnaire, and it can be used in a variety of settings, such as research laboratories, clinics, and schools.

The TAS-20 has played an important role in the development of our understanding of alexithymia. It has helped to identify the key features of this condition and to develop more effective treatments.

Here is an example of how the TAS-20 can be used in practice:

A therapist may use the TAS-20 to assess a client’s level of alexithymia. If the client scores high on the TAS-20, the therapist may work with the client to develop skills for identifying and describing their emotions. This may help the client to better understand and manage their emotions, and to improve their relationships with others.

The TAS-20 is a valuable tool for researchers and clinicians who are working with people who may have alexithymia. It can help to identify people who may benefit from treatment, and to track their progress over time.

Administration, Scoring and Interpretation

To administer the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), simply provide the participant with a copy of the scale and ask them to read and complete it carefully. The participant should rate each item on a 5-point Likert scale, from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

Once the participant has completed the scale, you can score it by summing the scores for all 20 items. Five of the items are reverse-scored, so be sure to subtract 5 from the score for each of these items. The total score for the TAS-20 ranges from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater alexithymia.

A total score of 61 or higher is considered to be indicative of alexithymia. Scores of 52 to 60 are considered to be borderline alexithymia. Scores below 51 are considered to be normal.

Here are some tips for administering the TAS-20:

  • Provide the participant with a quiet and comfortable place to complete the scale.
  • Make sure that the participant understands the instructions for completing the scale.
  • If the participant has any questions about the scale, be sure to answer them clearly and concisely.
  • Respect the participant’s privacy and confidentiality.

Reliability and Validity

The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) is a reliable and valid measure of alexithymia. It has been shown to have good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and inter-rater reliability. The TAS-20 has also been shown to be convergent with other measures of alexithymia, and to discriminate between people with and without alexithymia.

Internal consistency refers to the extent to which the items on a scale measure the same underlying construct. The TAS-20 has good internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.77. This means that the items on the TAS-20 are all measuring alexithymia to a similar degree.

Test-retest reliability refers to the extent to which a scale produces similar results when administered to the same people at different times. The TAS-20 has good test-retest reliability, with a correlation coefficient of 0.89 over a two-month period. This means that the TAS-20 is producing consistent results over time.

Inter-rater reliability refers to the extent to which different raters agree on the scores for a particular scale. The TAS-20 has good inter-rater reliability, with a correlation coefficient of 0.91 between two raters. This means that different raters are likely to assign similar scores to the same person on the TAS-20.

Convergent validity refers to the extent to which a scale correlates with other measures of the same construct. The TAS-20 has been shown to correlate with other measures of alexithymia, such as the Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. This suggests that the TAS-20 is measuring the same construct as other measures of alexithymia.

Discriminant validity refers to the extent to which a scale is able to discriminate between people with and without a particular condition. The TAS-20 has been shown to discriminate between people with and without alexithymia. For example, one study found that people with alexithymia had significantly higher scores on the TAS-20 than people without alexithymia.

Available Versions

20-Items

Reference

Bagby, R. M., Parker, J. D. A., & Taylor, G. J. (2020). Twenty-five years with the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Journal of psychosomatic research131, 109940. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.109940

Important Link

Scale File:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TAS-20?
The TAS-20 is a 20-item self-report questionnaire that measures alexithymia, a personality trait characterized by difficulty in identifying and describing feelings, as well as an externally oriented thinking style.

Who can take the TAS-20?
The TAS-20 can be taken by adults and adolescents. It is a relatively short and easy-to-administer questionnaire, and it can be used in a variety of settings, such as research laboratories, clinics, and schools.

How is the TAS-20 scored?
Each item on the TAS-20 is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Five of the items are reverse-scored. The total score for the TAS-20 is calculated by summing the scores for all 20 items.

What does a high score on the TAS-20 mean?
A higher score on the TAS-20 indicates greater alexithymia. A total score of 61 or higher is considered to be indicative of alexithymia.

What is the TAS-20 used for?
The TAS-20 can be used to assess alexithymia in research and clinical settings. It can also be used to track the progress of treatment for alexithymia.

What are the limitations of the TAS-20?
The TAS-20 is a self-report measure, and it is important to interpret the results with caution. People may be reluctant to report their true feelings, or they may not have the skills to accurately identify and describe their feelings. Additionally, the TAS-20 may not be appropriate for people with certain cognitive impairments.

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