An application of item response theory to alexithymia assessment among abstinent alcoholics. J Pers Assess 1992 Jun;58(3):506-15
Date
06/01/1992Pubmed ID
1319483DOI
10.1207/s15327752jpa5803_6Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0026873872 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 17 CitationsAbstract
An item response theory (IRT) model identified three dimensions assessed by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) in a sample of 130 male applicants for inpatient care at a Veterans Administration (VA) medical center alcoholism treatment program. A unidimensional solution did not capture all of alexithymia's theoretical features. Subjects with lower alexithymia scores gave positive responses to items tapping emotional awareness deficits; only those with higher alexithymia scores gave positive responses to items tapping external, operative cognitive style. Thus, a total TAS score may not represent alexithymia accurately in substance-abusing patient populations.
Author List
Hendryx MS, Haviland MG, Gibbons RD, Clark DCAuthor
David C. Clark PhD Assistant Dean, Professor in the Research Office department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAffective Symptoms
Aged
Alcoholism
Awareness
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Personality Assessment
Psychometrics
Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
Temperance
