Empirical journey into the measurement of symbolic function as a dimension of alexithymia.

This paper traces the author's empirical research journey into the measurement of symbolic function as a dimension of alexithymia. The archetypal test with 9 elements (AT9) is proposed as a tool to discrimnate between forms and degrees of disorganization in symbolic behavior of alexithymic subjects. The results seem to indicate that the AT9 test is able to differentiate a primary from a secondary alexithymic subject.