Alexithymia in parents and adolescent anorexic daughters: comparing the responses to TSIA and TAS-20 scales

Figures & data

Table 1 Self-report versus clinical interview: advantages and disadvantages

Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)	Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA)
Self-report	Structured interview
Time required: 10–15 minutes	Time required: minimum 40 minutes
Quick to administer	More laborious to administer
Inexpensive	Training required to administer
Simple to score	Training required to score
Assume patient is aware of his/her deficit	Inquiry help clarifying the true nature of unclear responses
Assume subject’s motivation to reply sincerely	Presence of an external observer may provide a more valid assessment
Lack of a measure of imaginal processes	Assessment of fantasy activity
Limits due to respondent’s motivation and ability to reply sincerely	Accuracy depends on standardized administration and rating across different interviewers/raters

Table 2 Alexithymia estimate standard score for each family member, family mean standard score, alexithymia standard score of the contrasts between family members related to the TSIA and the TAS-20 common factors, and total score

Factor	Family	TSIA		TAS-20		Family couple	TSIA	TAS-20
		Family member standard score	Family mean standard score	Family member standard score	Family mean standard score		Couple contrast standard score	Couple contrast standard score
F1	D	2.36**	0.20	−3.39**	−2.91**	D vs M	2.96**	1.29
	M	−1.84*		−2.27**		D vs F	1.78*	0.55
	F	0.09		−3.07**		M vs F	−1.50	1.01
F2	D	−0.53	0.97	−2.30**	−2.18**	D vs M	−1.62	−2.91**
	M	1.75*		−1.85*		D vs F	−1.67*	2.89**
	F	1.68*		−2.40**		M vs F	−0.28	2.81**
F3	D	0.96	1.58	−0.10	−1.37	D vs M	−0.33	1.18
	M	1.48		−2.77**		D vs F	−1.43	0.52
	F	2.3**		−1.43		M vs F	−1.21	−0.67
Total	D	2.70**	2.38**	−3.10**	−4.04***	D vs M	0.94	1.06
	M	1.57		−4.85***		D vs F	−0.25	0.61
	F	2.89**		−4.17***		M vs F	−1.17	−0.44

Notes: Data relative to one of the 16 families.

* P<0.05,

** P<0.01,

*** P<0.001.

Abbreviations: TSIA, Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia; TAS-20, Toronto Alexithymia Scale; F1, difficulty identifying feelings; F2, difficulty describing feelings; F3, externally oriented thinking; D, daughter; M, mother; F, father.

Figure 1 Family alexithymia mean standard score percentage: a comparison between the TSIA and the TAS-20.

Notes: *TSIA vs TAS-20 comparison P<0.05. Low category: percentage of family obtaining scores below the standard score -1.64, P<0.05. High category: percentage of family obtaining scores above the standard score 1.64, P<0.05.
Abbreviations: TSIA, Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia; TAS-20, Toronto Alexithymia Scale; F1, difficulty identifying feelings; F2, difficulty describing feelings; F3, externally oriented thinking; TOT, total score.

Figure 2 Family members alexithymia standard score percentage: a comparison between the TSIA and the TAS-20 for (A) daughter, (B) mother, and (C) father.

Notes: *TSIA vs TAS-20 comparison P<0.05. Low category: percentage of (A) daughters, (B) mothers, and (C) fathers obtaining scores below the standard score -1.64, P<0.05. High category: percentage of (A) daughters, (B) mothers, and (C) fathers obtaining scores above the standard score 1.64, P<0.05.
Abbreviations: TSIA, Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia; TAS-20, Toronto Alexithymia Scale; F1, difficulty identifying feelings; F2, difficulty describing feelings; F3, externally oriented thinking; TOT, total score.

Figure 3 Family couple contrasts alexithymia standard score percentage: a comparison between the TSIA and the TAS-20 for (A) daughter (D) versus mother (M), (B) daughter (D) versus father (F), and (C) mother (M) versus father (F).

Notes: *TSIA vs TAS-20 comparison P<0.05. Low category: percentage of contrasts (A) daughter versus mother, (B) daughter versus father, and (C) mother versus father below the standard score –1.64, P<0.05. High category: percentage of contrasts (A) daughter versus mother, (B) daughter versus father, and (C) mother versus father above the standard score 1.64, P<0.05.
Abbreviations: TSIA, Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia; TAS-20, Toronto Alexithymia Scale; F1, difficulty identifying feelings; F2, difficulty describing feelings; F3, externally oriented thinking; TOT, total score.