Factor structure of the Greek translation of the Scale for the Assessment of Thought, Language and Communication

TY - JOUR

T1 - Factor structure of the Greek translation of the Scale for the Assessment of Thought, Language and Communication

AU - Andreou, Christina

AU - Bozikas, Vasilis P

AU - Papouliakos, Ioannis

AU - Kosmidis, Mary H

AU - Garyfallos, George

AU - Karavatos, Athanasios

AU - Nimatoudis, Ioannis

PY - 2008/7/1

Y1 - 2008/7/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: The Scale for the Assessment of Thought, Language and Communication (TLC) is a widely used instrument for the assessment of formal thought disorder. TLC disorders were initially conceptualized as having only two underlying dimensions, a negative and a positive one. But studies of the factorial structure of the TLC have not provided confirmation for the positive-versus-negative distinction. The aim of the present study was to assess the factorial structure of the Greek translation of the TLC.METHOD: Subjects were 103 patients (69 male, 34 female) with psychotic disorders randomly recruited from both inpatient and outpatient facilities. The TLC was assessed by two raters based on a 20 min clinical interview.RESULTS: Principal component analysis with varimax rotation yielded a three-factor structure; the three factors consisted off items reflecting (i) disorganization of speech; (ii) peculiarities of speech; and (iii) verbosity. The disorganization factor could be further divided into two dimensions reflecting disturbances in the flow of ideas and in the structure of speech.CONCLUSION: The investigation of the factorial structure of the Greek translation of the TLC scale found no support for the positive-versus-negative distinction of TLC disorders. Three factors (disorganization, speech peculiarities, and verbal productivity) were found to underlie the variance of the scale.

AB - OBJECTIVE: The Scale for the Assessment of Thought, Language and Communication (TLC) is a widely used instrument for the assessment of formal thought disorder. TLC disorders were initially conceptualized as having only two underlying dimensions, a negative and a positive one. But studies of the factorial structure of the TLC have not provided confirmation for the positive-versus-negative distinction. The aim of the present study was to assess the factorial structure of the Greek translation of the TLC.METHOD: Subjects were 103 patients (69 male, 34 female) with psychotic disorders randomly recruited from both inpatient and outpatient facilities. The TLC was assessed by two raters based on a 20 min clinical interview.RESULTS: Principal component analysis with varimax rotation yielded a three-factor structure; the three factors consisted off items reflecting (i) disorganization of speech; (ii) peculiarities of speech; and (iii) verbosity. The disorganization factor could be further divided into two dimensions reflecting disturbances in the flow of ideas and in the structure of speech.CONCLUSION: The investigation of the factorial structure of the Greek translation of the TLC scale found no support for the positive-versus-negative distinction of TLC disorders. Three factors (disorganization, speech peculiarities, and verbal productivity) were found to underlie the variance of the scale.

KW - Adult

KW - Cognition

KW - Communication

KW - Factor Analysis, Statistical

KW - Female

KW - Greece

KW - Humans

KW - Language

KW - Male

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Thinking

KW - Translations

U2 - 10.1080/00048670802119721

DO - 10.1080/00048670802119721

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 18612867

VL - 42

SP - 636

EP - 642

JO - AUST NZ J PSYCHIAT

JF - AUST NZ J PSYCHIAT

SN - 0004-8674

IS - 7

ER -