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A Psychometric Study of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory to Assess Fatigue in Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

Fatigue is frequently reported by patients with mental illness. The multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) is a self-assessment instrument with 20 items including five dimensions of fatigue. The purpose of this study was to examine the test–retest reliability, internal consistency, convergent construct validity and feasibility of using MFI-20 in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Patients completed two self-assessment instruments, MFI-20 (n = 93) and Visual Analogue Scale (n = 79), twice within 1 week ±2 days. Fifty-three patients also rated the feasibility of responding to the MFI-20 with a Likert scale. The test–retest reliability and validity were analysed by using Spearman's correlations and internal consistency by calculating Cronbach's α. The test–retest showed a correlation between .66 and .91 for all subscales of MFI. The internal consistency was .92. The analysis of convergent construct validity showed a correlation of .68 (time 1) and .77 (time 2). No item was systematically identified as being difficult to answer.

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Conflict of interest

None of the authors declare any conflict of interests. All authors certify responsibility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Science Centre, Faculty of Medicine at Lund University, P.O. Box 157, 221 00, Lund, Sweden

    Lena Hedlund, Amanda Lundvik Gyllensten & Lars Hansson

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  1. Lena Hedlund
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  2. Amanda Lundvik Gyllensten
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  3. Lars Hansson
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Correspondence to Lena Hedlund.

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Hedlund, L., Gyllensten, A.L. & Hansson, L. A Psychometric Study of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory to Assess Fatigue in Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders. Community Ment Health J 51, 377–382 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9746-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9746-3

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