Latent structure of cognition in schizophrenia: a confirmatory factor analysis of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB).
BACKGROUND
The number of separable cognitive dimensions in schizophrenia has been debated. Guided by the extant factor analytic literature, the NIMH Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) initiative selected seven cognitive domains relevant to treatment studies in schizophrenia: speed of processing, attention/vigilance, working memory, verbal learning, visual learning, reasoning and problem solving, and social cognition. These domains are assessed in the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). The aim of this study was to conduct a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the beta battery of the MCCB to compare the fit of the MATRICS consensus seven-domain model to other models in the current literature on cognition in schizophrenia.


METHODS
Using data from 281 schizophrenia outpatients, we compared the seven correlated factors model with alternative models. Specifically, we compared the 7-factor model to (a) a single-factor model, (b) a three correlated factors model including speed of processing, working memory, and general cognition, and (c) a hierarchical model in which seven first-order factors loaded onto a second-order general cognitive factor.


RESULTS
Multiple fit indices indicated the seven correlated factors model was the best fit for the data and provided significant improvement in model fit beyond the comparison models.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the assessment of these seven cognitive dimensions in clinical trials of interventions to improve cognition in schizophrenia. Because these cognitive factors are separable to some degree, it is plausible that specific interventions may have differential effects on the domains.
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences,David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
A
A
McCleery
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences,David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
M F
MF
Green
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences,David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
G S
GS
Hellemann
University of Kansas School of Medicine at Wichita,Wichita,KS,USA.
L E
LE
Baade
Department of Psychiatry,Maryland Psychiatric Research Center,University of Maryland Baltimore,School of Medicine,Baltimore,MD,USA.
J M
JM
Gold
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,Duke University,Durham,NC,USA.
R S E
RS
Keefe
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences,David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
R S
RS
Kern
Public Psychiatry Division of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,Department of Psychiatry,Massachusetts Mental Health Center,Harvard Medical School,Boston,MA,USA.
R I
RI
Mesholam-Gately
Public Psychiatry Division of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,Department of Psychiatry,Massachusetts Mental Health Center,Harvard Medical School,Boston,MA,USA.
L J
LJ
Seidman
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences,David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
K L
KL
Subotnik
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences,David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
J
J
Ventura
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences,David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
K H
KH
Nuechterlein
D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014481:United States
Confirmatory factor analysis; MCCB; neurocognition; schizophrenia