Alexithymia, type A behaviour and bulimia nervosa

This paper studies the prevalence of alexithymia and type A behaviour among women with bulimia nervosa and the psychometric relations between these tw o psychological constructs. A group of 35 patients selected according to DS M-III-R diagnostic criteria was evaluated using the Toronto Alexithymia Sca le (TAS) and the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) and compared with a matched control group of healthy women. Bulimic patients scored significantly highe r than controls in alexithymia and in I and II TAS factors, and in speed/im patience and hard-driving style. Type A prevalence was similar in both grou ps and overall results suggest that alexithymia anal type A behaviour are h eterogeneous psychological constructs. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons , Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.