Is It Advisable to Use the Quantitative Version of At.9 to Evaluate Alexithymia When Opting for a Multi-method Evaluative Approach?

Abstract

Introduction A multi-method approach is recommended for evaluatingalexithymia. Apart from the directmethods such as self-reported questionnaires, there are indirect approachesthat make use of projective tests. Of these tests, the quantitative version ofthe Objectively Scoring Archetypal Test 9 (SAT.9) of the 9 Element Anthropological Test(AT.9) has demonstrated an adequatelevel of reliability in the evaluation of alexithymia, notably symbolizationability deficiency (SAD). However, there has to our knowledge been no recent researchdone on the appropriateness of the SAT.9 for evaluating alexithymia. Objective The aim of the study undertakenwas to determine to what extent the Bermond-VorstAlexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ) is correlated with the SAT.9, andparticularly the SAD. Method The study was conducted withan experimental group composed of substance polyconsumers (N=25) and a controlgroup (N=25) of university-level students. All participants tookthe BVAQ and the SAT.9. Results The results indicate thatthe experimental group participants’ scores were significantly superior to thecontrol group's scores on each of the sub-scales of the BVAQ as well as ontheir total score. The results also show that the experimental groupparticipants had a larger SAD than the control group members. Lastly, the results highlight significantcorrelations between the two groups’ BVAQ global scores and the SAD on the SAT.9. Conclusion This studyunderscores the appropriateness of using the SAT.9 for evaluating alexithymia aspart of a multi-method approach.