Alexithymia Test (TAS-20)
Difficulty identifying, describing, and processing emotions
How well do you identify and express your emotions? The TAS-20 measures alexithymia across three dimensions. 20 items, about 5 minutes.
What Is Alexithymia?
Alexithymia, derived from Greek (a- = lack, lexis = word, thymos = emotion), literally means "lack of words for emotions." It is a personality construct characterized by difficulty identifying, describing, and processing one's own emotional experiences.
About the TAS-20
The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), developed by Bagby, Parker & Taylor (1994), is a widely used self-report measure of alexithymia. The 20 items assess three core dimensions:
Three Subscales:
- Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF): Trouble recognizing and naming emotions
- Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF): Trouble communicating feelings to others
- Externally-Oriented Thinking (EOT): Concrete, externally-focused cognitive style
- Internal consistency: α = 0.81 (DIF), 0.79 (DDF), 0.72 (EOT)
- Test-retest reliability: r = 0.82 (3-week interval)
- Three-factor structure confirmed across clinical and non-clinical populations
Scoring & Interpretation
Higher scores on each subscale indicate greater difficulty in that domain.
Disclaimer
The TAS-20 is a screening instrument and does not constitute a clinical diagnosis. A qualified mental health professional should conduct a comprehensive evaluation for diagnostic purposes.
Result Interpretation
After completing the 20 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Dimension breakdown — separate scores for each sub-scale
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.