THE RELATIONSHIP OF CLINICAL SYMPTOMS AND IPATFACTORED TESTS OF ANXIETY, REGRESSION AND ASTHENIA

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Abstract
On a sample of 94 private male and female middle class private patients diagnosed as neurotics and measured on planned factor-pure measures of anxiety (U.I. [Universal Index] 24), regression (U.I. 23 [-]), and asthenia (U.I. 28), a factor analysis was made to determine what specific clinical symptoms were associated with each of these factors. The simple structure factor analysis of the 1st occasion''s testing and observation checked very closely with that independently done for an occasion 6 weeks later, and with earlier factor analysis. The IPAT [Institute for Personality and Ability Testing] verbal and objective (O-A) anxiety-batteries agreed well, and this pure anxiety factor showed up in clinical reports of irritability, anxiety, depression, phobic behavior and insomnia, but not in somatization and hypochondriasis. On the other hand, regression (U.I. 23 [[long dash]] showed rigidity and slowing down (on tests) to be associated with rated hypochondriasis, depression and somatization but not irritability, anxiety and phobia. The asthenia (U.I. 28) factor showed no clinical symptom report relations except to age and headaches. However, like the anxiety and regression factors it was decidedly higher in neurotics (p > . 001) than normals. It declined, but not significantly, in the 6-week treatment period. Three hypotheses are offered for further investigation on the interpretation of clinical factor 4: 1) factor 1 (U.I. 24) is considered the characterological trait and factor 4 a momentary state of anxiety; 2) normal and neurotic anxiety split into 2 factors; 3) the effect of interaction of doctor and patient appear as a role adaptation or "instrument" factor. A 2nd order factoring showed 2 dimensions of severity of neurosis; factor I loading anxiety, regression and asthenia, and factor II loading regression, clinical symptomatology and neurotic role behavior. A 3rd factor was one of social status. The IPAT-factored O-A measures of anxiety, regression and asthenia were confirmed to have relations to clinical diagnosis and symptomatology hypothesized from their values as normal personality source traits.

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