Cochrane C E, Brewerton T D, Wilson D B, Hodges E L
Institute of Psychiatry Eating Disorders, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-0742.
Int J Eat Disord. 1993 Sep;14(2):219-22. doi: 10.1002/1098-108x(199309)14:2<219::aid-eat2260140212>3.0.co;2-g.
Eating disorder patients appear to have high degrees of alexithymia, a diminished capability to verbally describe feelings, although little data exist. We administered the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) to 114 females with DSM-III-R defined eating disorders. Patients, regardless of subtype, scored significantly higher than 370 college-aged females. TAS scores were significantly correlated to self-ratings of affective symptoms, but not weight or binge-purge frequency.