Abstract
There is evidence that cognitive task performance breaks down into the same broad domains in schizophrenia as in healthy populations. However, this does not mean that the domains are independent of one another or that the interrelationships among domains are the same between groups. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to compare the latent structure of a broad neuropsychological battery in schizophrenia patients (n = 148) and healthy controls (n = 157). Main analyses examined the fit of a hierarchical six-factor model, in which associations among the factors were assumed to reflect their strong shared relationship to a general cognitive ability factor. The model incorporated the factors of verbal comprehension, perceptual organization, verbal memory, spatial memory, processing speed, and executive/working memory. The hierarchical model provided a good overall fit to data from both groups. However multiple groups CFA revealed significant differences in factor loadings between groups, reflecting a more generalized latent structure of cognitive ability in schizophrenia. This was also evident in higher bivariate correlations among cognitive domain composite scores calculated from the observed test data. Cognitive ability, as reflected in test performance, appears to be more unitary in schizophrenia than in healthy subjects. This finding may have measurement and treatment implications.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 20-29 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Schizophrenia Research |
| Volume | 85 |
| Issue number | 1-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Cognition
- Confirmatory factor analysis
- Neuropsychology
- Schizophrenia
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Biological Psychiatry
- Neurology
- Psychology(all)
Cite this
A comparison of cognitive structure in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls using confirmatory factor analysis. / Dickinson, Dwight; Ragland, John D; Calkins, Monica E.; Gold, James M.; Gur, Ruben C.
In: Schizophrenia Research, Vol. 85, No. 1-3, 07.2006, p. 20-29.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A comparison of cognitive structure in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls using confirmatory factor analysis
AU - Dickinson, Dwight
AU - Ragland, John D
AU - Calkins, Monica E.
AU - Gold, James M.
AU - Gur, Ruben C.
PY - 2006/7
Y1 - 2006/7
N2 - There is evidence that cognitive task performance breaks down into the same broad domains in schizophrenia as in healthy populations. However, this does not mean that the domains are independent of one another or that the interrelationships among domains are the same between groups. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to compare the latent structure of a broad neuropsychological battery in schizophrenia patients (n = 148) and healthy controls (n = 157). Main analyses examined the fit of a hierarchical six-factor model, in which associations among the factors were assumed to reflect their strong shared relationship to a general cognitive ability factor. The model incorporated the factors of verbal comprehension, perceptual organization, verbal memory, spatial memory, processing speed, and executive/working memory. The hierarchical model provided a good overall fit to data from both groups. However multiple groups CFA revealed significant differences in factor loadings between groups, reflecting a more generalized latent structure of cognitive ability in schizophrenia. This was also evident in higher bivariate correlations among cognitive domain composite scores calculated from the observed test data. Cognitive ability, as reflected in test performance, appears to be more unitary in schizophrenia than in healthy subjects. This finding may have measurement and treatment implications.
AB - There is evidence that cognitive task performance breaks down into the same broad domains in schizophrenia as in healthy populations. However, this does not mean that the domains are independent of one another or that the interrelationships among domains are the same between groups. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to compare the latent structure of a broad neuropsychological battery in schizophrenia patients (n = 148) and healthy controls (n = 157). Main analyses examined the fit of a hierarchical six-factor model, in which associations among the factors were assumed to reflect their strong shared relationship to a general cognitive ability factor. The model incorporated the factors of verbal comprehension, perceptual organization, verbal memory, spatial memory, processing speed, and executive/working memory. The hierarchical model provided a good overall fit to data from both groups. However multiple groups CFA revealed significant differences in factor loadings between groups, reflecting a more generalized latent structure of cognitive ability in schizophrenia. This was also evident in higher bivariate correlations among cognitive domain composite scores calculated from the observed test data. Cognitive ability, as reflected in test performance, appears to be more unitary in schizophrenia than in healthy subjects. This finding may have measurement and treatment implications.
KW - Cognition
KW - Confirmatory factor analysis
KW - Neuropsychology
KW - Schizophrenia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33746812609&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33746812609&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.schres.2006.03.003
DO - 10.1016/j.schres.2006.03.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 16616831
AN - SCOPUS:33746812609
VL - 85
SP - 20
EP - 29
JO - Schizophrenia Research
JF - Schizophrenia Research
SN - 0920-9964
IS - 1-3
ER -