Factor structure in the Camberwell Assessment of Need-Patient Version: the correlations with dimensions of illness, personality and quality of life of schizophrenia patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the factor structure underlying the Camberwell Assessment of Need-Patient Version (CANSAS-P) items in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.


METHODS
Factor, correlation and regression analyses were performed for dimensions of CANSAS-P, illness, personality and quality of life (QOL) related variables in 95 stabilized patients with chronic schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.


RESULTS
Exploratory factor analysis revealed a four-factor model that explains 50.4% of the total variance of the 20 CANSAS-P items. The factors 'Social disability', 'Information processing disability', 'Emotional processing disability', and 'Coping disability' showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient 0.67-0.77). The CANSAS-P subscale scores positively correlated with severity of symptoms, distress (r ranged from 0.34 to 0.45), while negatively associated with general functioning (r = -0.34), friend (r = -0.46) and family support (r = -0.41), satisfaction with medicine (r = -0.35), general activities (r = -0.40), and general QOL (r = -0.35) (all P < 0.001). Severity of illness, symptoms, emotional distress and emotion-oriented coping were positive predictors; friend support, QOL general activities, life satisfaction and satisfaction with medicine were negative predictors of the CANSAS-P subscale scores. The effect size (f(2)) for these predictors ranged from medium to quite large (f(2) = 0.28-1.13), and they explain from 23% to 46% of the variability in CANSAS-P subscales.


CONCLUSIONS
A four-factor structure mode, including social and cognitive functioning, emotion responsivity and coping with daily challenges, appears to fit CANSAS-P items. These subscales may contribute to research and improve treatment of psychiatric patients.
Department of Psychiatry, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, and Sha'ar Menashe Mental Health Center, Hadera, Israel. ritsner@sm.health.gov.il
Michael S
MS
Ritsner
Alexander
A
Lisker
Marina
M
Arbitman
Alexander
A
Grinshpoon
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D012944:Social Support; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation