Interactive Interpreter

TAS-20: Toronto Alexithymia Scale

The TAS-20 (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, 20-item) is a 20-item self-report questionnaire that measures alexithymia, a difficulty identifying and describing feelings with externally oriented thinking, developed by Bagby, Parker and Taylor in 1994. Totals run 20–100, with 61 or higher conventionally classed as alexithymia and 52–60 as possible alexithymia.

For professional reference, research, and education only. Not for diagnosis or medical advice.

TAS-20 Score Interpreter

  • Enter a total score to see its range.

  • 20 items rated 1–5 (5 items reverse-scored). Higher scores = greater alexithymia. Three subscales: DIF, DDF, EOT.

    Total scoreInterpretation
    61+AlexithymiaScore consistent with alexithymia: marked difficulty identifying and describing feelings and a tendency toward externally oriented thinking.
    52–60Possible alexithymiaBorderline range. Emotional processing difficulties may be present; further clinical evaluation is warranted.
    20–51Alexithymia unlikelyScore below the commonly used alexithymia threshold. Emotional processing within typical range on this measure.

    Bagby, Parker & Taylor (1994). Severity ranges per commonly used clinical convention.

The TAS-20 (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, 20-item) is a self-report questionnaire that measures alexithymia, a difficulty identifying and describing feelings with a tendency toward externally oriented thinking [1]. Totals run 20 to 100, and 61 or above is the commonly used cutoff for alexithymia.

What does the TAS-20 measure?

The TAS-20 was developed by Michael Bagby, James Parker and Graeme Taylor to measure alexithymia [1].

Sifneos coined the term in 1973 for a deficit in emotional awareness: difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings to others, and a tendency to focus on external rather than internal experiences.

The 20 items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agree). Five items (4, 5, 10, 18, 19) are reverse-scored before summing.

  • Total. Scores range from 20 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater alexithymia.
  • Subscales. DIF (Difficulty Identifying Feelings, 7 items), DDF (Difficulty Describing Feelings, 5 items) and EOT (Externally Oriented Thinking, 8 items).

Most alexithymia research over the past 25 years has used the TAS-20, including multiple language translations [3]. For a plain-language guide to the construct and how it overlaps with autism and emotional blunting, see the alexithymia test page.

How do you give the TAS-20?

The TAS-20 is a self-report questionnaire. Respondents rate 20 statements on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly disagree to 5 = Strongly agree). No clinician administration is required, though results should be interpreted within a broader clinical context.

How do you score and interpret the TAS-20?

Sum all 20 items after reverse-scoring items 4, 5, 10, 18 and 19, for a total of 20–100 [1]. By commonly used convention, a total of 61 or higher is classed as alexithymia, 52–60 as possible alexithymia, and 51 or lower as alexithymia unlikely; use the score interpreter above to look up a total.

TAS-20 subscales: DIF, DDF and EOT

The TAS-20 yields three factor subscores reflecting distinct components of the alexithymia construct [1].

Difficulty identifying feelings (DIF)

7 items. Assesses difficulty recognizing and distinguishing between emotions and the bodily sensations of emotional arousal.

Difficulty describing feelings (DDF)

5 items. Measures difficulty communicating feelings to other people.

Externally oriented thinking (EOT)

8 items. Reflects a tendency to focus on the external environment rather than inner experience.

Psychometric properties

  • Development. The TAS-20 showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and a three-factor structure (DIF, DDF, EOT) that was replicated by confirmatory factor analysis in clinical and nonclinical samples [1].
  • Validity. Convergent and discriminant validity were supported by the expected pattern of correlations with NEO Personality Inventory scales, psychological mindedness and need for cognition in university students. Concurrent validity was supported by positive correlations with observer ratings of alexithymia in behavioural medicine outpatients [2].
  • 25-year review. The authors concluded that the preponderance of evidence supports the scale's reliability and validity [3].

Limitations

  • Not a diagnosis. Alexithymia is a personality trait, not a DSM or ICD diagnosis; the TAS-20 measures it on a continuum.
  • Cutoffs are a convention. The ≥61 and 52–60 ranges are commonly used conventions rather than cutoffs validated against a criterion standard.
  • Weak EOT subscale. A critical review found the Externally Oriented Thinking subscale unreliable in practically all studies, and in some clinical samples DIF and DDF collapsed into a single factor [4].
  • Self-report paradox. People with limited emotional awareness are asked to rate their own awareness; a critical review recommended using it in combination with other measures [4].

For individuals: This page is a clinical reference, not a diagnostic tool. If you have concerns about your own symptoms, bring this information to a qualified mental health professional.

Related

FAQ

  • What does a TAS-20 score of 61 or higher mean?

    A total score of 61 or above is commonly used to classify alexithymia — difficulty identifying, describing, and distinguishing feelings from bodily sensations. Scores in the 52–60 range are considered a possible or borderline alexithymia zone. These cutoffs are widely applied in research and clinical settings as a commonly used clinical convention.

  • Is the TAS-20 self-report or clinician-administered?

    The TAS-20 is a self-report questionnaire. Respondents rate 20 statements on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly disagree to 5 = Strongly agree). Five items are reverse-scored before summing. No clinician administration is required, though results should be interpreted within a broader clinical context.

  • Can the TAS-20 provide a diagnosis of alexithymia?

    No. Alexithymia is a personality trait or construct, not a standalone psychiatric diagnosis in DSM or ICD classification systems. The TAS-20 quantifies the degree of alexithymia on a continuum; elevated scores indicate a characteristic pattern of emotional processing difficulty that warrants clinical attention, but a score alone does not constitute a diagnosis.

  • How is the TAS-20 scored?

    Sum all 20 item responses (each rated 1–5). Items 4, 5, 10, 18, and 19 are reverse-scored before summing. Total scores range from 20 to 100. The three factor subscales — DIF (Difficulty Identifying Feelings, 7 items), DDF (Difficulty Describing Feelings, 5 items), and EOT (Externally Oriented Thinking, 8 items) — are summed separately to provide a subscale profile.

References

    1. 1.Bagby RM, Parker JD, Taylor GJ. The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale--I. Item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure. J Psychosom Res. 1994;38(1):23-32.
    2. 2.Bagby RM, Taylor GJ, Parker JD. The Twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale--II. Convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. J Psychosom Res. 1994;38(1):33-40.
    3. 3.Bagby RM, Parker JDA, Taylor GJ. Twenty-five years with the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. J Psychosom Res. 2020;131:109940.
    4. 4.Kooiman CG, Spinhoven P, Trijsburg RW. The assessment of alexithymia: a critical review of the literature and a psychometric study of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. J Psychosom Res. 2002;53(6):1083-90.

HiBoop does not offer this scale. This page is reference material.This library is an academic and clinical reference. A scale described here is not necessarily offered in HiBoop; each page says whether it is.

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