Two-factor solution of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale confirmed

The German version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was studied in 277 medical students. The factor analysis yielded a two-factor solution, quite in agreement with the results of a recent analysis of the French version of the same scale. The first factor corresponds to the difficulties to identify and to describe feelings, where as the second factor corresponds to the externally oriented thinking. TAS-20 proved to be a reliable scale to measure alexithymia; the usage of the total scale score is recommended.