Evaluation of a Shortened South Oaks Gambling Screen in veterans with addictions

• Published in: Psychology of addictive behaviors Vol. 22; no. 2; p. 309
• Main Authors: Nelson, Karl G, Oehlert, Mary E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alcoholism - diagnosis; Alcoholism - epidemiology; Alcoholism - psychology; Comorbidity; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders - diagnosis; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders - epidemiology; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders - psychology; Female; Gambling - psychology; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data; Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data; Reproducibility of Results; Street Drugs; Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Veterans - psychology; Veterans - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0893-164X
• DOI: 10.1037/0893-164X.22.2.309

Rates of pathological gambling have increased with the availability of legalized gambling. Substance-abuse units increasingly recognize the need to assess for gambling problems. The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS; H. R. Lesieur & S. B. Blume, 1987) has filled this need. Previous research (M. Oehlert & K. Nelson, 2004) has considered the feasibility of reducing the length of the SOGS while maintaining its ability to identify people at risk for problematic gambling. In this study, the authors examined the utility of a shortened SOGS (SSOGS) in a 2nd sample of veterans with addictions. The authors used data analysis to explore SSOGS psychometric properties and to provide additional support for use of the shorter instrument.