Problem Drinking Scale (PDS) - psychometric characteristics.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychometrics
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Alcohol use disorders represent a significant public health concern.
• Accurate assessment tools are crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning.
• The Problem Drinking Scale (PDS) is a novel instrument designed for evaluating alcohol use disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Problem Drinking Scale (PDS).
• To confirm the scale's utility in quantitative and qualitative analysis of alcohol use disorders based on DSM-5 criteria.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 108 adults with varying alcohol consumption levels, recruited from addiction clinics and the general population.
• Scale validity was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT).
• Reliability was determined through internal consistency analysis (split-half method, Cronbach's alpha with Spearman-Brown correction).

Main Results:

• The PDS demonstrated high criterion validity when correlated with AUDIT scores (r = 0.88, p < .01).
• Validity coefficients for specific areas ranged from 0.77 (Pharmacological dependence) to 0.86 (Difficulty in controlling drinking).
• Reliability, measured by Cronbach's alpha with Spearman-Brown correction, ranged from 0.65 to 0.89, with all values exceeding 0.60.

Conclusions:

• The Problem Drinking Scale (PDS) is a psychometrically sound tool for assessing alcohol use disorders.
• The PDS is suitable for clinical practice, aiding in diagnosis, severity assessment, and treatment monitoring.
• The scale provides valuable quantitative and qualitative data for understanding and managing alcohol use disorders.