title: Is the repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status factor structure appropriate for inpatient psychiatry? An exploratory and higher-order analysis.
abstract: The present study, utilizing a sample of inpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (n = 167), examined the factor structure of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Principal axis exploratory factor analysis, multiple factor extraction criteria, and higher-order factor analysis were used. Results were inconsistent with the five-factor structure of the RBANS purported in the test manual. Factor extraction criteria recommended extraction of one or two factors. Extraction of two factors resulted in a memory dimension and a less homogeneous visual perception and processing speed dimension. Higher-order analysis found that a second-order factor, representing general neurocognitive functioning, accounted for over three times the total and common variance than the two first-order factors combined. It was concluded that although the RBANS appears to be a useful measure of general neurocognitive functioning for inpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, clinical interpretation beyond a general factor (i.e., Total Scale score) should be done with caution in this population. Limitations of the present study and directions for future research are discussed.
authors: Department of Psychology, Patton State Hospital, Patton, CA 92369, USA. loren.king@psh.dmh.ca.gov
authors: Loren C
authors: LC
authors: King
authors: Jason M
authors: JM
authors: Bailie
authors: Dominique I
authors: DI
authors: Kinney
authors: Stephen R
authors: SR
authors: Nitch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology