Factor Structure and Sensitivity to Change of the Recovery Assessment Scale

Abstract

The focus on recovery, not just symptom reduction, in mental health care brings a need for psychometrically sound measures of recovery. This study examined the factor structure and sensitivity to change of a common measure of mental health recovery, the Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS). We conducted a secondary data analysis from a randomized clinical trial of self-management for depression (n = 302). We tested both bifactor and the previously found five-factor model. Sensitivity to change was examined three ways: (1) between the intervention and control group; (2) across time in the intervention group; and (3) in those whose depression remitted. The previous five-factor model was supported. One subscale, no domination by symptoms, was particularly sensitive to change and showed sensitivity to change whereas the subscale reliance on others did not show change in any of the comparisons. Results suggest that the subscales of the RAS should be examined separately in future studies of recovery.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01139060.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1. Diagram of the bifactor (1a) and five factor (1b) models

The bifactor model includes a general factor along with an additional factor for each subscale. The general factor accounts for the correlation between subscales. The five factor model only includes the five subscales with correlations between subscales.