The DSM Guided Cannabis Screen (DSM-G-CS): description, reliability, factor structure and empirical scoring with a...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Substance Abuse Research

Background:

• Clinicians require validated screening tools for cannabis use disorder (CUD) that align with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) and proposed DSM-5 criteria.
• Existing screening methods may not adequately capture the nuances of cannabis-related disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the construct validity and empirical scoring of the DSM-Guided-Cannabis Screen (DSM-G-CS) in a clinical sample.
• To assess the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of two versions (21-item and 11-criteria) of the DSM-G-CS.

Main Methods:

• A clinical sample (n=174) completed the 21-item and 11-criteria DSM-G-CS, alongside three drug comparison measures.
• Descriptive statistics, reliability analyses, factor analyses (FA), and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and discriminant analyses were performed.
• The Marijuana Screening Inventory (MSI) was used for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• Both DSM-G-CS versions demonstrated high reliability (21-item: .88; 11-criteria: .85).
• Factor analyses supported the retention of all items and identified distinct underlying factors for both versions.
• ROC and discriminant analyses indicated empirically sound scoring cutoffs (1.5 to 2.5) for probable CUD, showing good accuracy compared to the MSI.

Conclusions:

• The DSM-G-CS exhibits strong construct validity and reliable empirical scoring, making it compatible with DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5 diagnostic models for cannabis use disorder.
• Clinical scores of two to three or higher on the DSM-G-CS suggest probable CUD, necessitating further diagnostic assessment.