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Updated: Apr 14, 2026
10:46
A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
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Bifactor structure of clinical disability in relapsing multiple sclerosis
Eric Chamot1, Ilya Kister2, Garry R Cutter3
1Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, 1665 University Blvd, Suite 217H, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, USA.
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
|April 17, 2015
Summary
Bifactor modeling effectively captures multiple sclerosis (MS) disability, identifying global neurological function and specific leg/cognitive impacts. This approach refines disability assessment in MS research.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychometrics
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) significantly impacts neurological functions, complicating disability assessment.
- Similar challenges exist in child development and psychiatry, where bifactor models have improved outcomes.
- Bifactor models offer a novel approach to understanding complex disability structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply bifactor confirmatory factor analysis to MS clinical disability outcomes.
- To present this methodology in an accessible manner for broader understanding.
- To explore the utility of bifactor models in MS research.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 301 relapsing-remitting MS patients in the Avonex trial (480 assessments).
- Employed Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), MS Functional Composite (MSFC), and other neurological measures.
- Compared unidimensional, multidimensional, and bifactor confirmatory factor analysis models.
Main Results:
- The bifactor model demonstrated a strong fit, explaining 59.4% of total variance.
- It identified a global neurological function dimension (63.1% variance).
- Auxiliary dimensions for leg (17.1%) and cognitive (9%) function variability were also identified.
Conclusions:
- Bifactor modeling is a valuable tool for understanding MS disability structure.
- This approach can refine composite measures of global disability in MS.
- It offers a promising avenue for advancing MS clinical research and assessment.
Keywords:
Bifactor modelDisability evaluationFactor analysisMultiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC)Multiple sclerosisOutcome measureMore Related Videos
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