Evidence for a verbal deficit in alexithymia.

This study examined the relationship between alexithymia and specific domains of cognitive function. Fifty-nine neurologically intact combat veterans completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), a number of other symptom measures, and several neuropsychological tests. Modest but consistent correlations were noted between TAS scores and measures of developmental verbal ability. These relationships were not observed between the neuropsychological variables and the other symptom measures. Results suggest that poorly developed verbal ability may relate to the presence of primary alexithymia, irrespective of secondary etiologic factors.