The Berlin Inventory of Gambling behavior - Screening (BIG-S): Validation using a clinical sample

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Behavioral Addiction
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Existing German diagnostic tools for gambling disorder are outdated (DSM-III) or incomplete.
• There is a need for a screening tool aligned with current diagnostic standards (DSM-5).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Berlin Inventory of Gambling Behavior Screening (BIG-S) tool based on DSM-IV criteria in a clinical population.
• To adapt and validate the BIG-S tool for DSM-5 criteria.

Main Methods:

• Screening tool performance was assessed against clinical diagnoses in 432 patients at a behavioral addiction assessment center.
• A subsample of 300 diagnosed gambling disorder patients was compared with 132 controls.
• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, along with receiver operating characteristic analysis, were used to verify diagnostic improvements and instrument properties.

Main Results:

• The BIG-S tool achieved a high sensitivity of 99.7% and specificity of 96.2%.
• Factor analysis confirmed the instrument's unidimensionality.
• Receiver operating characteristic analysis supported the diagnostic improvements offered by DSM-5 criteria.

Conclusions:

• The BIG-S is a reliable and valid screening instrument for gambling disorder.
• The tool effectively operationalizes current DSM-5 criteria in a clinical context.
• The adapted BIG-S tool is suitable for use in clinical settings for gambling disorder screening.