How Do Asymptomatic Cases Affect Bifactor Models of Psychopathology and Their Criterion Validity?

We examined how asymptomatic cases affect the bifactor model of psychopathology. Asymptomatic cases: (1) increased the strength of the general factor and decreased that of specific factors; and (2) inflated associations between external criteria and specific factors. Findings emphasize limitations of population-based ascertainment when examining structural models of psychopathology.