Comparing the validity of the Cigarette Dependence Scale and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence.
BACKGROUND
We compared the validity of the Cigarette Dependence Scale (CDS-12) and of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) in daily cigarette smokers.


METHODS
Internet survey in 2004-2007. Eight days and 6 weeks after answering these two dependence questionnaires, participants indicated their smoking status and answered the Cigarette Withdrawal Scale and the Smoking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. We used the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to assess nicotine dependence as defined in DSM-IV.


RESULTS
There were 13,697 participants at baseline, 1113 (8%) after 8 days and 435 (3%) after 6 weeks. CDS-12, but not FTND, predicted smoking cessation after 8 days (odds ratio=1.20 per standard deviation unit, p=0.03) and 6 weeks (odds ratio=1.34, p=0.01). In participants who had quit smoking after 8 days, CDS-12 was a better predictor of craving (beta=0.30, p<0.001), than FTND (beta=0.14, p<0.01). After 8 days, self-efficacy in quitters was predicted by CDS-12 (beta=-0.16, p=0.02), but not by FTND (beta=-0.05, p=0.3). CDS-12 was more strongly associated than FTND with DSM-defined dependence measured by MINI: area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve=0.72 (95% confidence interval=0.70-0.73). For FTND, the area under ROC=0.64 (0.63-0.66).


CONCLUSIONS
CDS-12 performed better than FTND on tests of predictive and construct validity.
Etter
Jean-François
JF
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, 1 rue Michel-Servet, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. Jean-Francois.Etter@imsp.unige.ch
D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009538:Nicotine / Q000633:toxicity*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation
D009538:Nicotine