[PANSS six-factor model]

To analyze the factor structure of PANSS in a sample of patients with schizophrenia receiving inpatient treatment and to compare the factors with the data of neuropsychological evaluation of their cognitive functions.

The study included 110 patients (50 females and 60 males) diagnosed with schizophrenia. The psychopathological symptoms were assessed using the PANSS scale in the adapted Russian version - SCI-PANSS. Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) scale.

A six-factor PANSS model was constructed using the principal components method, which included a negative factor, a positive factor, a depressive factor, an excitement factor, a disorganized factor, and a cognitive factor. The cognitive factor was the only one associated with some subtests, as well as the overall BACS score.Negative correlations were found with memorization of a sequence of numbers (r=-0.184, p=0.045), a motor test with chips (r=-0.250, p=0.019), a test for speech fluency (r=-0.186, p=0.043), an Encoding test (r=-0.291, p=0.002), and an overall BACS score (r=-0.228, p=0.017).

It is advisable to use a six-factor model with differentiation of a disorganized and cognitive factor to increase the value of PANSS as an assessment tool for the severity of cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia.