A confirmatory factor analysis of the center for epidemiologic studies depression scale in rheumatoid arthritis patients: Additional evidence for a four‐factor model

• Published in: Arthritis and rheumatism Vol. 12; no. 6; pp. 392 - 400
• Main Authors: Rhee, Soo Hyun, Petroski, Gregory F., Parker, Jerry C., Smarr, Karen L., Wright, Gail E., Multon, Karen D., Buchholz, Janda L., Komatireddy, Geetha R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.12.1999
• Subjects: Arthritis, Rheumatoid - complications; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - psychology; Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; Confirmatory factor analysis; Depression; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - etiology; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - standards; Rheumatoid arthritis
• ISSN: 0004-3591; 0893-7524; 1529-0131; 1529-0123
• DOI: 10.1002/1529-0131(199912)12:6<392::AID-ART7>3.0.CO;2-9

Objective To examine the factor structure of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D) in a sample of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), testing all of the alternative models suggested by the previous evidence Methods The CES‐D was administered to a group of RA patients (n = 685) during a structured telephone interview. The telephone interview was repeated 6 months later (n = 537) and 12 months later (n = 453). Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test alternative models. Results The correlated 4‐factor model and the second‐order 4‐factor model were the best fitting models. Conclusion The factor structure of the CES‐D previously found in the general population was replicated in an RA sample. The results are consistent with previous evidence of criterion contamination in the CES‐D when used in an RA sample and provide support for the view that a single summary score may not be the most informative index of the CES‐D.