Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Monday, May 18, 2009

Sources of Unreliability in the Diagnosis of Substance Dependence
J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 70: 475-481, 2009


These results are consistent with prior findings that the SSADDA yields reliable diagnoses and criterion counts for the more prevalent substance-dependence diagnoses. The present analysis extends these findings by showing that the greatest source of unreliability was the subjects' report. This underscores the need for efforts to increase the reliability of substance-dependence diagnoses (and by extension other self-reported phenotypic features) by enhancing the consistency of the information provided by the subjects interviewed.




Request Reprint E-Mail: rich.feinn@yale.edu

________________________________________________