Pothead or pot smoker? A taxometric investigation of cannabis dependence.
BACKGROUND
Taxometric methods were used to discern the latent structure of cannabis dependence. Such methods help determine if a construct is categorical or dimensional. Taxometric analyses (MAXEIG and MAMBAC) were conducted on data from 1,474 cannabis-using respondents to the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Respondents answered questions assessing DSM-IV criteria for cannabis dependence.


RESULTS
Both taxometric methods provided support for a dimensional structure of cannabis dependence.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the MAMBAC results were not entirely unequivocal, the majority of evidence favored a dimensional structure of cannabis dependence.
Denson
Thomas F
TF
Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, SGM 501, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1061, USA. denson@usc.edu
Earleywine
Mitch
M
D002188:Cannabis; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000145:classification*; D008385:Marijuana Smoking; D015233:Models, Statistical