Complainer Profile Identification (CPI): properties of a new questionnaire on subjective cognitive complaints

Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) and their role as a possible indicator for subsequent dementia became of growing interest in recent research. In contrast to studies that focused primarily on memory complaints, we aimed to (a) evaluate a questionnaire to register SCC in multiple cognitive domains (Complainer Profile Identification, CPI), (b) assess the association between SCC and psychosocial variables, and (c) assess whether complainer types can be differentiated. Confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate construct validity was computed based on a sample of 734 healthy participants (mean [M] = 43.15 years). On a subsample of 644 participants, the relationship between the total level of SCC with age, depression, social integration, and aging stereotypes was assessed utilizing multiple regression analysis. Differences in complainer types were assessed by multivariate analysis of variance. The results indicate sound psychometric properties of the CPI. The overall level of SCC is largely influenced by depressiveness, whereas executive complainers show the highest level of depressive affect, being overall younger and less socially integrated.