Alexithymia in anorexia nervosa: a controlled study using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale.

• The 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) was completed at the age of 22 years by individuals who had previously suffered from anorexia nervosa (AN), and also by members of a comparison group. The AN and comparison groups had been recruited from community samples. Overall, the TAS scores did not clearly discriminate between the two groups. However, the AN group was significantly more often represented among subjects with the highest TAS scores. A subgroup with empathy disorder tended to have particularly high scores. It is concluded that alexithymia, as defined using the TAS-20, is found only in a subgroup of individuals with AN, and possibly more often in those who are also clinically diagnosed as suffering from empathy disorder. The TAS-20 is not suitable for screening of AN in the general population.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adolescent

Adult

Affective Symptoms

Complications

Diagnosis

Anorexia Nervosa

Classification

Complications

Psychology

Case-Control Studies

Chi-Square Distribution

Compulsive Personality Disorder

Complications

Confidence Intervals

Empathy

Female

Follow-Up Studies

Humans

Logistic Models

Male

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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