with the COG dimension and type II alexithymia, not with AFF ( Berthoz & Hill, 2005; Bermond, Moormann,
Albach, & Dijke 2008 ). Schizophrenia, and somatization are related to alexithymia type II ( Van’t Wout, Aleman,
Bermond & Kahn 2007; Bailey et al., 2007 ). Neuroticism and depression are correlated positively with Identifying
and Verbalizing and type II alexithymia, but negatively with Fantasizing, and not with type I alexithymia
(Morera et al., 2005; Bermond, 2010 ). The galvanic skin response (GSR) amplitude in response on emotional
stimuli is related to AFF not to COG ( Bermond, Bierman, Cladder, Moormann, & Vorst 2010 ). Finally, Moormann
et al. (2008) published profiles of the three alexithymia types that were based on the alexithymia literature,
and personality-scale data from 143 psychology students. These authors described the type I person as a loner
orEinzelga ¨nger, the type II person as neurotic, and the type III as narcissistic. Although the publication of
Moormann et al. (2008) should be regarded as provisional and in need of replication (Bermond et al., in prepara-
tion), it together with the other BVAQ-related publications, indicates discriminant and convergent validity; for
the BVAQ subscales, the BVAQ COG and AFF dimensions, as well as the usefulness of the three alexithymia
types.
Location
Vorst, H. & Bermond, B. (2001). Validity and reliability of the Bermond /C0Vorst alexithymia questionnaire.
Personality and Individual Differences , 30, 413 /C0434.
Results and Comments
The internal consistencies of the subscales and the dimensions COG and AFF vary between sufficient and
good, with a possible exception for the subscale Emotionalizing for which, some studies, mention insufficient
alphas. Results regarding Test /C0retest reliability are few and vary between insufficient and acceptable. Results for
the five-factor structure vary between insufficient to good, but most publications indicate at least acceptable fit.
Results regarding the higher order structure with two dimensions point to very acceptable fit. Concurrent valid-
ity with the TAS-20 produced acceptable results for the three cognitive subscales and good validity for the
dimension COG. However, concurrent validity with the dimension AFF indicated that the BVAQ-AFF measures
other domains of alexithymia compared to the TAS-20. Publications with the BVAQ point to discriminant and
convergent validity for subscales as well as BVAQ-COG and AFF, and the usefulness of the various alexithymia
types. BVAQ scores can be analyzed on a subscale level as well as on the level of the two dimensions/subscales
(BVAQ-COG & BVAQ-AFF). Since the two dimensions are orthogonal to one another the 40-item-sum-total score
is without meaning.
BVAQ Sample Items
I find it difficult to express my feelings verbally (VERB).
When I am upset, I know whether I am afraid or sad or angry (IDEN).
I hardly ever consider my feelings (ANA).
Before I fall asleep, I imagine all kinds of events, encounters and conversations (FAN).
When I see somebody crying uncontrollably, I remain unmoved (EMO).
Psychological Treatment Inventory /C0Alexithymia Scale (PTI-AS)
(Gori et al., 2012 ).
Variable
The aim of the authors was to develop an extremely short alexithymia scale.
Sample
The samples in the Gori et al. (2012) study consisted of (1) 743 normals (48.4% females; M533.7 years,
SD51.8.), and (2) 35 patients with diagnoses of eating disorders (82.2 % females; M526.33 years, SD 59.27).
Description
The PTI-AS, is a five-item self-rating scale with a 5-point Likert-type response scale, aimed to assess symptoms
of alexithymia, which is denoted by difficulty in: identifying feelings, describing feelings, analyzing feelings,
and impoverished inner emotional life. According to Gori et al. (2012) , the PTI-AS adequately covers the five246 9. MEASURES OF ALEXITHYMIA
III. EMOTION REGULATION