Psychometric properties of the web-based work-readiness cognitive screen used as a neuropsychological assessment tool for schizophrenia

Traditional neuropsychological tests have been essential in understanding the nature and magnitude of the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia. However, current health care practices demand a more cost-effective and time-efficient assessment tool. This study investigates the psychometric properties of the work-readiness cognitive screen (WCS), a web-based neuropsychological measure, as a tool for screening cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, and examines diagnostic group differences in cognitive functioning between those with schizophrenia and affective disorders using the WCS. Data from 185 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 29 outpatients with a mood disorder was analyzed in this study. The 185 people with schizophrenia were further divided into higher- and lower-functioning groups to assess cognition as it relates to daily functioning. People with schizophrenia demonstrated cognitive impairment on the WCS measures of attention, working memory, immediate and delayed visual memory, and verbal recognition memory. The higher-functioning schizophrenia group tended to perform better on the WCS cognitive domains than the low-functioning group. Reliability ranged from moderate to high. Working memory was found to be the most significant factor distinguishing diagnostic groups. These preliminary studies suggest that the WCS is a useful, time- and cost-effective cognitive screening measure for schizophrenia.