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Reliability of the Weak Opiate Withdrawal Scale for inter-city opiate users
S Juni1, M Hanson, G Ottomanelli
1New York University, Department of Applied Psychology, NY 10003, USA.
Psychological Reports
|December 1, 1996
Summary
This study assessed the reliability of the Weak Opiate Withdrawal Scale in 70 inner-city men. Findings suggest modifying the scale to improve its accuracy for this population.
Area of Science:
- Psychometrics
- Addiction Medicine
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Opiate withdrawal assessment is crucial for treatment.
- Existing scales may require refinement for specific populations.
- The Weak Opiate Withdrawal Scale is used to measure withdrawal severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the psychometric properties, specifically reliability, of the 84-item Weak Opiate Withdrawal Scale.
- To identify items within the scale that may not be reliable for inner-city men post-acute withdrawal.
- To propose modifications to enhance the scale's utility in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Reliability was estimated using Kuder-Richardson 20 (KR-20).
- The study sample comprised 70 inner-city men who had used opiates and completed acute withdrawal.
- Item analysis was conducted to identify problematic items.
Main Results:
- The overall reliability of the 84-item scale was assessed.
- Analysis indicated that negatively worded items and cognitively complex items yielded unreliable responses.
- These items may elicit paradoxical responses in the studied population.
Conclusions:
- The Weak Opiate Withdrawal Scale requires modification for optimal use with inner-city men post-acute withdrawal.
- Excluding specific item types (negatively worded, cognitively complex) is recommended.
- Scale refinement can improve the accuracy of opiate withdrawal assessment in clinical settings.