A FACTOR-ANALYSIS OF THE MINI-MENTAL-STATE-EXAMINATION IN SCHIZOPHRENIC DISORDERS

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is frequently used in schizop hrenia studies. Therefore, it is surprising that no factor analysis of MMSE has been carried out in schizophrenic patients. The MMSE ratings of 80 long-term in-patients with DSM-III-R schizophrenia or schizoaff ective disorder were introduced into a principal-component analysis wi th varimax rotation which generated three MMSE factors or subscales (f rontal, memory and spatial). The limitations of this pilot study are t he small sample size and the inclusion of only hospitalized patients.