Factor structure and psychometric properties of the clinical impairment assessment 3.0 (CIA) in a clinical eating disorder sample

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties and the factor structure of the Clinical Impairment Assessment 3.0 (CIA) utilizing a confirmatory factor analysis in a large clinical sample of ED patients. MethodsA total of 260 patients between the ages of 18 and 45 who completed assessments in a partial hospitalization or residential treatment program at an ED treatment facility between December 2012 and December 2016 were included in the analyses. Assessment measures included the CIA, EDE-Q, BDI-II, WHODAS, and a demographic questionnaire. ResultsResults favored a bifactor model with a strong general factor and three unreliable subfactors. The CIA showed strong construct validity with other measures of ED pathology (EDE-Q) and health-related QoL (WHODAS). Furthermore, admission CIA scores were predictive of treatment outcomes. ConclusionsThe CIA assesses general psychosocial impairment, supporting the use of a total, but not subscale scores, among symptomatic ED samples in the United States.