The Development of an MMPI Alexithymia Scale

Abstract

A 22-item MMPI alexithymia scale was derived from the Beth Israel Psychosomatic Questionnaire (BIQ). The new MMPI scale yields an 82% hit rate when predicting to BIQ alexithymia scores and has been shown to have impressive stability over time. The new scale should provide a rapid, standardized means of assessing alexithymia in a variety of populations.

The predictive value of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale among patients with asthma

“…Patients with asthma classified as alexithymic using the MMPI Alexithymia Scale [3] have been shown to be at risk for longer lengths of hospital stay and rehospitalization for asthma [4,5], but they tend to report less physical and emotional symptoms experienced during asthma attacks [6]. These findings were independent of objective measures of pulmonary function.…”

The Amsterdam Alexithymia Scale: Its Psychometric Values and Correlations with Other Personality Traits

“…However, this test is not a self-evaluation questionnaire and has to be filled out by the therapist, after interviewing the client. The BIQ is therefore time consuming [22], and the reliability of the test varies with the knowledge and experience of the therapist [23]. …”

Measuring Alexithymia via Trait Approach-I: A Alexithymia Scale Item Selection and Formation of Factor Structure

“…The self-report forms include the MMPI Alexithymia Scale, whose items were selected from the MMPI, Schalling-Sifneos Personality Scale, Amsterdam Alexithymia Scale, Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Test, which is the revised form of the previous scale, and psychological Treatment Inventory-Alexithymia Scale (78,79,80,81,82). TAS has been found to have good psychometric qualities and to be the most widely used self-report scale (83).…”