Psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale -TAS were studied in a sample of 294 inpatients with different pathologies, assisted at a general hospital. Results showed good internal consistency (a = 0,72) and test-retest reliability (r= 0,72). For this population the data were best represented by a three-factor structure. The items on the first factor are associated with the ability to identify one's feelings and to distinguish them from bodily sensations. The items on the second subscale relate to a concrete style of thinking. The items on the third subscale pertain to daydreaming and imagination. In conclusion, alexithymia, as measured by the Portuguese version of the TAS, is multidimensional and not well-represented by a global severity score.
Emotion; affect; self-report
