title: Competence-related abilities and psychiatric symptoms: an analysis of the underlying structure and correlates of the MacCAT-CA and the BPRS.
abstract: The current study used confirmatory factor analysis to examine the factor structures of two instruments commonly used in the assessment of competency to stand trial--the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool--Criminal Adjudication (MacCAT-CA) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Results revealed support for the three-subscale factor structure of the MacCAT-CA defined by the authors of the instrument; for a slightly altered three-factor structure defined by Zapf, Skeem, and Golding (2005, Psychological Assessment, 17, 433-445); and for the four symptom clusters of the BPRS as defined by Hedlund and Vieweg (1980, Journal of Operational Psychiatry, 11, 48-63). In addition, exploratory factor analysis of all 24 items of the BPRS revealed a five-factor structure. Correlations between psychiatric symptoms, symptom clusters, and competence-related abilities were also examined using the previously identified and the newly identified factor structures of the MacCAT-CA and the BPRS. Significant relations between symptoms and psycholegal abilities are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, NY 10019, USA.
authors.forename: Molly S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Ryba
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Zapf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014481:United States