Exploring the Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale in Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract

Purpose – Insight holds pivotal significance in the recovery process for individuals dealing with mental health conditions. The Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS) is the most prevalent and well-recognized tool for assessing cognitive insight in individuals suffering from mental health disorders. This study aimed to perform cross-cultural validation and explore the factorial structure of the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS) in Pakistani schizophrenia patients.

Method: This study used purposive sampling and a cross-sectional research design. It encompassed two phases: (1) a pilot study and (2) a main study. In the pilot phase, the standard translation method was employed to translate and examine the cross-cultural validation of the BCIS scale. In the main study phase, the primary objective was to investigate the construct validity and internal consistency of the Urdu-BCIS scale. One hundred diagnosed schizophrenia patients, ages ranging from 20 to 60 years (M = 31, SD = 8.02), were recruited at psychiatrist wards from various hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, between August and October 2022.

Results: The results of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed a novel structure of the BCIS in the Pakistani context. Two factors were identified as similar to the original structure but with significantly different factor loadings. The study established test-retest reliability, content validity, and construct validity in schizophrenic patients. These findings strongly support the appropriateness of the Urdu-BCIS version for clinical practice in the Pakistani context.

Conclusions: The study examined the scale and uncovered a novel factor structure that deviates from the original version. This study strongly supports the Urdu version of the BCIS as a reliable and valid clinical instrument for examining cognitive insight in Pakistani clinical settings. This cross-cultural validation highlighted a substantial stride in improving our vision and examination of cognitive insight in the Pakistani sample.