Toward DSM-V: An Item Response Theory Analysis of the Diagnostic Process for DSM-IV Alcohol Abuse and Dependence in Adolescents

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Vol. 47; no. 11; pp. 1329 - 1339
• Main Authors: Gelhorn, Heather, Hartman, Christie, Sakai, Joseph, Stallings, Michael, Young, Susan, Rhee, So Hyun, Corley, Robin, Hewitt, John, Hopger, Christian, Crowley, Thomas D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01.11.2008
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Alcohol Abuse; Alcoholism - classification; Alcoholism - diagnosis; Alcoholism - rehabilitation; Algorithms; Antisocial Personality Disorder - classification; Antisocial Personality Disorder - diagnosis; Antisocial Personality Disorder - rehabilitation; Child; Classification; Clinical Diagnosis; Colorado; Conduct Disorder - classification; Conduct Disorder - diagnosis; Conduct Disorder - rehabilitation; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Disability Identification; Drinking; Female; Humans; Item Response Theory; Juvenile Delinquency - legislation & jurisprudence; Juvenile Delinquency - psychology; Male; Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severity (of Disability); Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Colorado
• ISSN: 0890-8567; 1527-5418
• DOI: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e318184ff2e

Clinical interviews of approximately 5,587 adolescents revealed that DSM-IV diagnostic categories were found to be different in terms of the severity of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). However, a substantial inconsistency and overlap was found in severity of AUDs across categories. The need for an alternative diagnostic algorithm which considers all of the alcohol dependence and abuse symptoms is discussed.