PAQ

Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire

Anxiety & relatedSelf-reportAges 16+24 statements~5 min

Validated by Preece et al. (2018) · View paper

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Jaye Turrietta, PsyD, BCBA-D, AEP

A 24-item self-report measure of alexithymia across five dimensions (DIF/DDF split by positive vs negative valence, plus EOT).

For each statement, select the response that best matches how you feel. Answer based on how things generally are for you.

24 statements · ~5 min · Auto-saved

About the PAQ

The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire was developed by Preece, Becerra, Robinson, Dandy, and Allan (2018) to address a key limitation of the TAS-20: the inability to distinguish between difficulty with negative versus positive emotions. The PAQ measures all three components of alexithymia — difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally-oriented thinking — split across both emotional valences.

24 items on a 7-point scale. Designed for adults. Takes 5–15 minutes.

What it measures

N-DIF & P-DIF

Difficulty identifying negative and positive feelings. 4 items each.

N-DDF & P-DDF

Difficulty describing negative and positive feelings. 4 items each.

G-EOT

General externally-oriented thinking — tendency to focus on external events rather than inner emotional experience. 8 items.

Reliability

All PAQ subscales demonstrate high internal consistency reliability and convergent validity with the TAS-20. The valence split provides more actionable clinical insight than total-score-only instruments.

Important: The PAQ has not been specifically validated in autistic populations. General population norms may underestimate alexithymia in autism. It is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument.

Preece, D., Becerra, R., Robinson, K., Dandy, J., & Allan, A. (2018). The psychometric assessment of alexithymia: Development and validation of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire. Personality and Individual Differences, 128, 31–40.

PAQ FAQs

The most common questions about the PAQ (Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire).

What is the PAQ?

The PAQ (Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire) is a 24-item statement self-report screener for alexithymia across five dimensions. A 24-item measure of alexithymia across five dimensions — DIF and DDF separated by positive/negative valence, plus Externally Oriented Thinking. It was developed by Preece et al. (2018).

Who can take the PAQ?

The PAQ is designed for adults age 16 and up to complete themselves.

How long does the PAQ take?

Most people complete the PAQ in about 5 minutes. You can pause at any time — your answers are saved in your browser, so you can resume on the same device.

Is the PAQ diagnostic?

No. The PAQ is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. It is a validated screener that can suggest whether further evaluation is warranted, but only a licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist can make a formal diagnosis. NeuroClarity offers PSYPACT-licensed telehealth autism and ADHD evaluations via telehealth — a doctoral-level psychologist conducts a comprehensive evaluation, with reports typically delivered within days.

Is the PAQ free to take here?

Yes. The PAQ is free to take on this page. We don't require a sign-up, and we don't collect or share your responses — your answers are saved locally in your browser. You can also export your results as a PDF for your own records or to share with a clinician.

What does my PAQ score mean?

After you complete the PAQ, you'll see your total score broken into the validated severity / likelihood bands published for this instrument, along with a plain-language interpretation. Specific cutoffs vary by tool — for the PAQ, the scoring ranges and band descriptions are shown directly on the results page.

What if my PAQ score is elevated?

An elevated score on the PAQ is one signal — not a diagnosis. The recommended next step is a comprehensive clinical evaluation. NeuroClarity offers PSYPACT-licensed telehealth autism and ADHD evaluations starting at $950 flat fee with no waitlist; reports are typically delivered within days and include the diagnostic documentation needed for IEPs, ABA prior authorization, and other downstream services.

If your PAQ score suggests further evaluation may be warranted, book a comprehensive evaluation with one of our PSYPACT-licensed clinical psychologists. Reports typically delivered within one week.

How the PAQ compares to related screeners

Most screeners measure similar constructs but vary in length, target audience, and emphasis. Here's how the PAQ relates to the most commonly-paired alternatives.

PAQ vs TAS-20

The PAQ and the TAS-20 both measure alexithymia across five dimensions at a similar length (24 vs 20 statements). They originated from different research groups (2018 and 1994 respectively) and emphasize slightly different facets of the construct. Taking both and comparing your scores can be more informative than either one alone.

Take the TAS-20 →

PAQ vs CBI

The PAQ and the CBI both measure alexithymia across five dimensions at a similar length (24 vs 19 statements). They originated from different research groups (2018 and 2005 respectively) and emphasize slightly different facets of the construct. Taking both and comparing your scores can be more informative than either one alone.

Take the CBI →

PAQ vs OAQ

The PAQ and the OAQ both measure alexithymia across five dimensions at a similar length (24 vs 37 statements). They originated from different research groups (2018 and 2007 respectively) and emphasize slightly different facets of the construct. Taking both and comparing your scores can be more informative than either one alone.

Take the OAQ →

Add this free screener to your site

Educators, clinicians, and organizations are welcome to embed the PAQ for free. Copy the snippet below. It keeps a small link back to NeuroClarity.