Alexithymia and Perceived Symptoms: Criterion Validity of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale

The associations between alexithymia and somatization, perceived symptoms and subjective health, were investigated in a population sample of 2,297 middle-aged Finnish men. A modified translated version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) was used to assess alexithymia. A graded and statistically significant relationship was observed between the TAS score for alexithymia and self-reported recent symptoms. The alexithymia score, adjusted for age, smoking and socioeconomic status, was also positively associated with the MMPI hypochondriasis index and inversely with perceived level of health. One of the factors of the TAS appeared to have a weak but significant correlation with a variety of diagnosed disorders that previously have been considered psychosomatic.