Competence-Related Abilities and Psychiatric Symptoms: An Analysis of the Underlying Structure and Correlates of the MacCAT-CA and the BPRS |
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Authors: | Molly S. Jacobs Nancy L. Ryba Patricia A. Zapf |
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Affiliation: | Psychology Department, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, NY 10019, USA. |
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Abstract: | The current study used confirmatory factor analysis to examine the factor structures of two instruments commonly used in the assessment of competency to stand trial--the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool--Criminal Adjudication (MacCAT-CA) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Results revealed support for the three-subscale factor structure of the MacCAT-CA defined by the authors of the instrument; for a slightly altered three-factor structure defined by Zapf, Skeem, and Golding (2005, Psychological Assessment, 17, 433-445); and for the four symptom clusters of the BPRS as defined by Hedlund and Vieweg (1980, Journal of Operational Psychiatry, 11, 48-63). In addition, exploratory factor analysis of all 24 items of the BPRS revealed a five-factor structure. Correlations between psychiatric symptoms, symptom clusters, and competence-related abilities were also examined using the previously identified and the newly identified factor structures of the MacCAT-CA and the BPRS. Significant relations between symptoms and psycholegal abilities are discussed. |
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Keywords: | Competence Forensic assessment Competence-related abilities |
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