title: The structure of cognitive abilities in youths with manic symptoms: a factorial invariance study.
abstract: This study compared the structure of cognitive ability (specifically, verbal/crystallized [Gc] and visual-spatial ability [Gv]), as measured in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, in youth with manic symptoms with a nationally representative group of similarly aged youth. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis found the majority of the estimated parameters were invariant between the groups, although there was a difference in the intercepts for the Similarities subtest and difference in unique variances for the Picture Completion, Comprehension, and Picture Arrangement subtests. Thus, although there are many neurological changes associated with manic symptoms, the structure of verbal/crystallized and visual-spatial abilities appear relatively robust and invariant. As Gc and Gv are the primary domains on all the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children, results also indicate that clinical interpretation of the Wechsler scales may be appropriate to measure cognitive performance in youths with manic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798-7301, USA. Alex_Beaujean@Baylor.edu
authors.forename: A Alexander
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Beaujean
authors.forename: Megan Joseph
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Youngstrom
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carlson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013028:Space Perception; D014481:United States; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D014888:Wechsler Scales