Assessment of the German Version of Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS)
Background: Cognitive impairments are a hallmark of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD), contributing to poor treatment outcomes and a key treatment target. The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) battery is a validated tool designed to evaluate affected core domains in SSD. The...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Schizophrenia Research: Cognition |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215001325000228 |
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| author | Matin Mortazavi Jakob Amon Iris Jäger Genc Hasanaj Zahra Aminifarsani Kristin Fischer Matthias Gamer Alkomiet Hasan Richard S.E. Keefe Gabriele Sachs Peter Falkai Daniel Keeser Florian Raabe Elias Wagner |
| author_facet | Matin Mortazavi Jakob Amon Iris Jäger Genc Hasanaj Zahra Aminifarsani Kristin Fischer Matthias Gamer Alkomiet Hasan Richard S.E. Keefe Gabriele Sachs Peter Falkai Daniel Keeser Florian Raabe Elias Wagner |
| author_sort | Matin Mortazavi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Cognitive impairments are a hallmark of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD), contributing to poor treatment outcomes and a key treatment target. The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) battery is a validated tool designed to evaluate affected core domains in SSD. The present study evaluated psychometric properties of the German version of the BACS in a representative sample of individuals with SSD and healthy control subjects. Methods: N = 107 individuals with SSD and n = 175 healthy controls were assessed with the German version of the BACS. Diagnosis was confirmed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview according to DSM-V. Validity was assessed through pair-wise comparisons between SSD individuals and healthy controls and by using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Internal consistency as a measure of reliability was evaluated using McDonald's Omega and Cronbach's Alpha in addition to factor and principal component analysis. Results: All individuals with SSD exhibited significantly lower z-scores across all BACS subtests and BACS composite scores (Z < -1.5) compared to healthy controls. ROC analysis revealed good diagnostic accuracy with an AUC of 0.83 (95%CI: 0.78,0.88, sensitivity = 0.75, specificity = 0.75). Similar results were observed in sub-cohorts comprising clinically stable SSD patients and those with younger ages (18–35 years old). A unidimensional structure, supported by McDonald's Omega (ω = 0.72) and principal component analysis, confirmed robust internal reliability. Conclusions: The German BACS demonstrates strong validity and internal reliability when assessed in a representative case-control sample. This study provides an extensive normative dataset for individuals with SSD in German-speaking populations, facilitating future research and clinical assessments of cognition. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-487b97f1f2a24a56bfb86cb7134f68b9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2215-0013 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Schizophrenia Research: Cognition |
| spelling | doaj-art-487b97f1f2a24a56bfb86cb7134f68b92025-08-20T03:47:09ZengElsevierSchizophrenia Research: Cognition2215-00132025-09-014110036410.1016/j.scog.2025.100364Assessment of the German Version of Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS)Matin Mortazavi0Jakob Amon1Iris Jäger2Genc Hasanaj3Zahra Aminifarsani4Kristin Fischer5Matthias Gamer6Alkomiet Hasan7Richard S.E. Keefe8Gabriele Sachs9Peter Falkai10Daniel Keeser11Florian Raabe12Elias Wagner13Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Evidence-based Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Corresponding author at: Section for Evidence-based Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Augsburg, Germany.Department of Psychology (Experimental Clinical Psychology), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Evidence-based Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Evidence-based Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Evidence-based Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Evidence-based Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, GermanyDepartment of Psychology (Experimental Clinical Psychology), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Munich/Augsburg, GermanyDuke University, Durham, NC, USAMedical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaGerman Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Munich/Augsburg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Evidence-based Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, GermanyBackground: Cognitive impairments are a hallmark of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD), contributing to poor treatment outcomes and a key treatment target. The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) battery is a validated tool designed to evaluate affected core domains in SSD. The present study evaluated psychometric properties of the German version of the BACS in a representative sample of individuals with SSD and healthy control subjects. Methods: N = 107 individuals with SSD and n = 175 healthy controls were assessed with the German version of the BACS. Diagnosis was confirmed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview according to DSM-V. Validity was assessed through pair-wise comparisons between SSD individuals and healthy controls and by using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Internal consistency as a measure of reliability was evaluated using McDonald's Omega and Cronbach's Alpha in addition to factor and principal component analysis. Results: All individuals with SSD exhibited significantly lower z-scores across all BACS subtests and BACS composite scores (Z < -1.5) compared to healthy controls. ROC analysis revealed good diagnostic accuracy with an AUC of 0.83 (95%CI: 0.78,0.88, sensitivity = 0.75, specificity = 0.75). Similar results were observed in sub-cohorts comprising clinically stable SSD patients and those with younger ages (18–35 years old). A unidimensional structure, supported by McDonald's Omega (ω = 0.72) and principal component analysis, confirmed robust internal reliability. Conclusions: The German BACS demonstrates strong validity and internal reliability when assessed in a representative case-control sample. This study provides an extensive normative dataset for individuals with SSD in German-speaking populations, facilitating future research and clinical assessments of cognition.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215001325000228SchizophreniaCognition |
| spellingShingle | Matin Mortazavi Jakob Amon Iris Jäger Genc Hasanaj Zahra Aminifarsani Kristin Fischer Matthias Gamer Alkomiet Hasan Richard S.E. Keefe Gabriele Sachs Peter Falkai Daniel Keeser Florian Raabe Elias Wagner Assessment of the German Version of Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) Schizophrenia Research: Cognition Schizophrenia Cognition |
| title | Assessment of the German Version of Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) |
| title_full | Assessment of the German Version of Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of the German Version of Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of the German Version of Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) |
| title_short | Assessment of the German Version of Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) |
| title_sort | assessment of the german version of brief assessment of cognition in schizophrenia bacs |
| topic | Schizophrenia Cognition |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215001325000228 |
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