Confirmation of a two-factor model of premorbid adjustment in males with schizophrenia

Because schizophrenia is considered to be a neurodevelopmental disorder, pr emorbid adjustment is of particular interest, Premorbid adjustment is proba bly not a unitary construct but rather is expressed across a number of deve lopmental domains. The current investigation examined the validity of a two -factor model that differentiated premorbid adjustment across social and ac ademic domains and evaluated relationships between these premorbid adjustme nt domains and other variables of interest, Participants with schizophrenia (n = 141) underwent evaluation of premorbid adjustment (using the Premorbi d Adjustment Scale), intellectual functioning, and psychiatric symptoms, Us ing confirmatory factor analysis, a two-factor model of premorbid adjustmen t was identified that included an academic domain and a social domain, The social domain was associated with symptom variables, while the academic dom ain was associated with measures of intelligence. Results provide evidence for at least two domains of premorbid adjustment in schizophrenia, Distingu ishing between these two premorbid domains may be theoretically important b ecause of potential differences in incidence rates and deterioration course s; some individuals with schizophrenia may exhibit adequate academic adjust ment but poor social adjustment, while others may exhibit the opposite patt ern.