Factor structure of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: Dimensions of deficit in schizophrenia

Author(s): Seidman, L. J., Harrison, R. H., Lyons, M. J., Kremen, W. S., Caplan, B., Goldstein, J. M., Faraone, S. V., Tsuang, M. T.

Journal/Book: Neuropsychology. 1998; 12: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Amer Psychological Assoc. 289-302.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the factorial structure of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and to identify the dimensions of deficit in schizophrenia. WCST scores in patients with schizophrenia and schizophrenia-related psychosis (n = 292), Ist degree relatives of schizophrenic patients (n = 91), and normal controls (n = 141) were subjected to a principal factor analysis followed by orthogonal rotation. This led to 3 factors, perseveration, failure to maintain set, and idiosyncratic sorting. The detected factor structure was found to be invariant across the schizophrenic and control subsamples. Moreover, it replicated previous findings from 2 smaller samples. Only perseverations and, to a lesser degree, idiosyncratic sorting appeared to differentiate schizophrenic patients from comparisons. Only perseveration had good sensitivity and specificity. As well as the most robust significant correlations with estimates of IQ, attention, and other measures of executive functioning. Thus, perseveration appears to be the most diagnostically useful and characteristic WCST feature of schizophrenia.

Note: Article Seidman LJ, Harvard Univ, Sch Med, Dept Psychiat, Massachusetts Mental Hlth Ctr, Cambridge,MA 02138 USA

Keyword(s): DORSOLATERAL PREFRONTAL CORTEX; CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW; TEST-PERFORMANCE; NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION; NONPSYCHOTIC RELATIVES; MATCHING FALLACY; FOLLOW-UP; DYSFUNCTION; REMEDIATION; REDUCTION

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