Factorial structure of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale Confirmatory factorial analyses in nonclinical and clinical samples

Objective: The 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) measures three in tercorrelated dimensions of alexithymia: (1) difficulties identifying feeli ngs (DIF), (2) difficulties describing feelings (DDF), and (3) externally o riented thinking (EOT). The aim of the study was to test the three-factor m odel of the TAS-20 using confirmatory factorial analyses (CFA). Method: 769 healthy subjects and 659 patients meeting the DSM-IV criteria for substanc e use disorders or eating disorders completed the TAS-20. The correlation m atrices for each of the samples were analyzed with LISREL 7.16. Results: In each sample, the three-factor model was found to be replicable. Conclusion : The three TAS-20 subcales can be used to explore the distinct facets of t he alexithymia construct. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserve d.