Psychopathology depression superfactors measured in the clinical analysis questionnaire

In the area of psychometric measurement of depression, the most comprehensive multidimensional instrument is the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire (CAQ). This self-report inventory is purported to measure some 28 normal and abnormal personality source traits. In particular, seven separate depression primaries are claimed to have a measurement basis in the CAQ. Clearly, despite the apparent comprehensiveness of the instrument, there are too many primary factors in the CAQ for practical use in many contexts. In order to simplify interpretation of CAQ scores, it seems desirable to utilise a smaller number of more reliable superfactors wherever possible. The present investigation explores this issue and findings suggest that depression is a complex phenomenon even at the superfactor level. Findings also suggest that traditional psychiatric labels may need to be reworked in the light of the present evidence on superfactors within the psychopathological domain.