title: The NCA diagnostic criteria: critique, assessment, alternatives.
abstract: This analysis of the NCA diagnostic criteria has noted the relative lack of use and lack of research pertinent to the instrument. A critique and assessment of the criteria reveal major conceptual, methodological, psychometric and utilitarian problems. This may well explain why the instrument has received relatively little attention. Although the document (1) presents a legitimate diagnostic approach, it is narrow in scope and severely limited in applicability. Other diagnostic instruments exist which accomplish the same diagnostic task as the NCA diagnostic criteria, but in addition have more desirable psychometric qualities and are more utilitarian. Finally, more sophisticated methodologies, with the requisite psychometric and conceptual flexibility to deal with the data, have been developed, which render the NCA diagnostic criteria obsolete.
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003657:Decision Making; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011594:Psychometrics; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D013577:Syndrome