Confirmatory factor analysis of the Neurological Evaluation Scale in unmedicated schizophrenia

Sanders, Richard D.; Allen, Daniel N.; D. Forman, Steven; Tarpey, Thaddeus; Keshavan, Matcheri S.; Goldstein, Gerald

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2004.10.005

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Volume 133, Issue 1 , Pages 65-71, 30 January 2005

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Neurological Evaluation Scale in unmedicated schizophrenia

Richard D. Sanders
- Dayton VA Hospital, 4100 W. Third Street, Dayton, OH 45428, USA
- Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
Daniel N. Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 455030, Las Vegas, NV 89154-5030, USA
Steven D. Forman
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, 7180 Highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Thaddeus Tarpey
- Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
Matcheri S. Keshavan
- University of Pittsburgh, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Gerald Goldstein
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, 7180 Highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Corresponding author. VA Pittsburgh HCS, 7180 Highland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA. Tel.: +1 412 365 5232; fax: +1 412 365 5231.

Received 26 March 2004; received in revised form 28 September 2004; accepted 18 October 2004.

Abstract

Factor structure of the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES) was evaluated in 95 unmedicated patients with schizophrenia using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). CFA was used to test four competing models that were based on prior empirical work examining the factor structure of the NES, as well as on theoretical considerations. A three-factor solution composed of “repetitive motor,” “cognitive-perceptual,” and “balance-tandem” factors best accounted for the data. These findings are consistent with prior exploratory studies that have suggested the NES is a multidimensional procedure that assesses diverse neurological domains. The current results contribute to the development of empirical subscales for neurological assessment procedures to be used in psychiatric conditions.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, Neurological examination, Factor analysis