title: Lack of agreement between two questionnaires that evaluate the severity of the alcohol dependence syndrome.
abstract: The Short-Alcohol Dependence Data (SADD) and the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS) questionnaires, both designed to evaluate the degree of severity of alcohol dependence, were compared in a sample of 201 known alcoholics. Although a significant correlation was found between the scores obtained on the two scales (r = 0.61; P less than 0.01), respondents were classified differently by the two questionnaires (Kappa = 0.20). Subjects were generally considered less dependent by the ADS than by the SADD. Different possibilities that could explain the differential classification are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics