Item response theory analysis of DSM-IV cannabis abuse and dependence criteria in adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To examine three aspects of adolescent cannabis problems: do DSM-IV cannabis abuse and dependence criteria represent two different levels of severity of substance involvement, to what degree do each of the 11 abuse and dependence criteria assess adolescent cannabis problems, and do the DSM-IV items function similarly across different adolescent populations?


METHODS
We examined 5,587 adolescents ages 11 to 19, including 615 youths in treatment for substance use disorders, 179 adjudicated youths, and 4,793 youths from the community. All of the subjects were assessed with a structured diagnostic interview. Item response theory was used to analyze symptom endorsement patterns.


RESULTS
Abuse and dependence criteria were not found to represent different levels of severity of problem cannabis use in any of the samples. Among the 11 abuse and dependence criteria, problems cutting down and legal problems were the least informative for distinguishing problem users. Two dependence criteria and three of the four abuse criteria indicated different severities of cannabis problems across samples.


CONCLUSIONS
We found little evidence to support the idea that abuse and dependence are separate constructs for adolescent cannabis problems. Furthermore, certain abuse criteria may indicate severe substance problems, whereas specific dependence items may indicate less severe problems. The abuse items in particular need further study. These results have implications for the refinement of the current substance use disorder criteria for DSM-V.
Hartman
Christie A
CA
Drs. Hartman, Gelhorn, Crowley, Sakai, and Hopfer are with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Drs. Stallings, Young, Rhee, Corley, and Hewitt are with the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado.. Electronic address: christie.hartman@colorado.edu.
Gelhorn
Heather
H
Drs. Hartman, Gelhorn, Crowley, Sakai, and Hopfer are with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Drs. Stallings, Young, Rhee, Corley, and Hewitt are with the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado.
Crowley
Thomas J
TJ
Drs. Hartman, Gelhorn, Crowley, Sakai, and Hopfer are with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Drs. Stallings, Young, Rhee, Corley, and Hewitt are with the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado.
Sakai
Joseph T
JT
Drs. Hartman, Gelhorn, Crowley, Sakai, and Hopfer are with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Drs. Stallings, Young, Rhee, Corley, and Hewitt are with the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado.
Stallings
Michael
M
Drs. Hartman, Gelhorn, Crowley, Sakai, and Hopfer are with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Drs. Stallings, Young, Rhee, Corley, and Hewitt are with the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado.
Young
Susan E
SE
Drs. Hartman, Gelhorn, Crowley, Sakai, and Hopfer are with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Drs. Stallings, Young, Rhee, Corley, and Hewitt are with the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado.
Rhee
Soo Hyun
SH
Drs. Hartman, Gelhorn, Crowley, Sakai, and Hopfer are with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Drs. Stallings, Young, Rhee, Corley, and Hewitt are with the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado.
Corley
Robin
R
Drs. Hartman, Gelhorn, Crowley, Sakai, and Hopfer are with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Drs. Stallings, Young, Rhee, Corley, and Hewitt are with the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado.
Hewitt
John K
JK
Drs. Hartman, Gelhorn, Crowley, Sakai, and Hopfer are with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Drs. Stallings, Young, Rhee, Corley, and Hewitt are with the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado.
Hopfer
Christian J
CJ
Drs. Hartman, Gelhorn, Crowley, Sakai, and Hopfer are with the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Drs. Stallings, Young, Rhee, Corley, and Hewitt are with the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado.
D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003120:Colorado; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011594:Psychometrics; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data