METHODS: The analytic sample consisted of 1189 participants aged 16-17 years, screened by the Israeli Draft Board. Psychopathology was assessed using a modified version of the Brief Symptom Inventory, and cognition was assessed based on four standardized test scores ((1) mathematical reasoning, concentration, and concept manipulation; (2) visual-spatial problem-solving skills and nonverbal abstract reasoning; (3) verbal understanding; (4) categorization and verbal abstraction). Confirmatory factor analysis was implemented to compare competing structural models of psychopathology with and without cognition. Sensitivity analyses examined the models in different subpopulations.
RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a better model fit of psychopathological symptoms without cognition (RMSEA = 0.037; TLI = 0.991; CFI = 0.992) than with cognition (RMSEA = 0.04-0.042; TLI = 0.987-0.988; CFI = 0.988-0.989). Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these results with a single exception. Among participants with low cognitive abilities (N = 139), models that integrated psychopathological symptoms with cognition had a better fit compared to models of psychopathology without cognition.
CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that cognition and psychopathology are, generally, independent constructs. However, within low cognitive abilities, cognition was integral to the structure of psychopathology. Our results point toward an increased vulnerability to psychopathology in individuals with low cognitive abilities and may provide valuable information for clinicians.
方法:分析样本包括1189名16-17岁的参与者,由以色列草案委员会筛选。使用简短症状清单的修订版评估了精神病理学,认知是根据四个标准化考试成绩进行评估的((1)数学推理,浓度,和概念操纵;(2)视觉空间解决问题的能力和非语言抽象推理;(3)言语理解;(4)分类和言语抽象)。实施了验证性因子分析,以比较有无认知的精神病理学竞争结构模型。敏感性分析检查了不同亚群中的模型。
结果:验证性因素分析表明,与认知(RMSEA=0.04-0.042;TLI=0.987-0.988;CFI=0.988-0.989)相比,无认知(RMSEA=0.037;TLI=0.991;CFI=0.988-0.989)的精神病理症状模型拟合更好。敏感性分析支持这些结果的稳健性,但只有一个例外。在认知能力低的参与者中(N=139),与没有认知的精神病理学模型相比,将精神病理学症状与认知整合的模型更符合.
结论:当前的研究表明,认知和精神病理学是,一般来说,独立的构造。然而,在认知能力低下的情况下,认知是精神病理学结构的组成部分。我们的研究结果表明,认知能力低下的个体对精神病理学的脆弱性增加,并可能为临床医生提供有价值的信息。