Date of Award

1989

Publication Type

Doctoral Thesis

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Psychology, Clinical.

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the convergent and discriminant validity of the scored version of a test (SAT9) used to measure an important feature of alexithymia. Convergent measures included the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS, TASF1-TASF4), the Hypochondriasis scale (MHS), the Somatic Complaints (Somc) and the Physical Malfunctioning (Physm) subscales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and the Hypochondriasis and Denial scales of the Basic Personality Inventory (BPI). Discriminant measures included the remaining 10 BPI scales. Subjects included 32 inpatient somatizers, 31 psychiatric outpatients, and 34 dental patients. In a confirmatory factor analysis, more variance exists in the convergent and discriminant measures than can be accounted for by the author's theoretical model: X$\sp{\rm2}$(164), N = 20) = 313.49, p $<$.0009 (badness of fit index). In an exploratory factor analysis, 9 of the 12 BPI scales load together on one factor as do TASF3, TASF4, and SAT9. TASF1 and TASF2 load with those BPI scales which loaded on a factor labelled depression by Austin, Leschied, Jaffe, and Sas (1986). In an analysis of variance, there is no difference in SAT9 (F(2, 87) = 1.88, p=.16) or TAS scores (F(2,92) = 2.91, p =.06) among the groups. In an analysis of variance, neither SAT9 scores (F(2,87) =.095, p =.91) nor TAS scores (F(2,92) = 2.13, p =.12) differ among subjects grouped according to presence or absence of classical psychosomatic disorders. In separate standard multiple regressions, BPIHypochondriasis, BPIDenial, MHS, Physm, and Somc could predict SAT9 scores (F(5,83) = 2.35, p =.047) and TAS scores (5,88) = 5.41, p =.0002). In a standard multiple regression, SAT9 and TAS scores could not predict physicians' estimates of the organic bases of the somatic problems of the somatizers: F(5,21) = 1.56, p =.21. After Bonferroni's correction, the only significant relationships among demographic variables and the measures of alexithymia are between: age and TASF4 among the somatizers (r =.60, p $<$.001), TASF3 and age in the combined groups (r =.31, p $<$.001), and TASF4 and age in the combined groups (r =.39, p $<$.001). The author concluded that TASF3, TASF4, and SAT9 are measuring something different from the measures of other psychopathology (BPI scales). TASF1 and TASF2 have more in common with scales which measure depression than with the other measures of alexithymia. Psychosomatic and somatizing disorders are not symptomatic of alexithymia.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1989 .C654. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-03, Section: B, page: 1102. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1989.

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