title: Data compatibility in the addiction sciences: an examination of measure commonality.
abstract: The need for comprehensive analysis to compare and combine data across multiple studies in order to validate and extend results is widely recognized. This paper aims to assess the extent of data compatibility in the substance abuse and addiction (SAA) sciences through an examination of measure commonality, defined as the use of similar measures, across grants funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Data were extracted from applications of funded, active grants involving human-subjects research in four scientific areas (epidemiology, prevention, services, and treatment) and six frequently assessed scientific domains. A total of 548 distinct measures were cited across 141 randomly sampled applications. Commonality, as assessed by density (range of 0-1) of shared measurement, was examined. Results showed that commonality was low and varied by domain/area. Commonality was most prominent for (1) diagnostic interviews (structured and semi-structured) for substance use disorders and psychopathology (density of 0.88), followed by (2) scales to assess dimensions of substance use problems and disorders (0.70), (3) scales to assess dimensions of affect and psychopathology (0.69), (4) measures of substance use quantity and frequency (0.62), (5) measures of personality traits (0.40), and (6) assessments of cognitive/neurologic ability (0.22). The areas of prevention (density of 0.41) and treatment (0.42) had greater commonality than epidemiology (0.36) and services (0.32). To address the lack of measure commonality, NIDA and its scientific partners recommend and provide common measures for SAA researchers within the PhenX Toolkit.
authors: Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, United States. Electronic address: kconway@nida.nih.gov.
authors: Kevin P
authors: KP
authors: Conway
authors: Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, United States; Kelly Government Solutions, Bethesda, MD, United States.
authors: Genevieve C
authors: GC
authors: Vullo
authors: Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, United States.
authors: Ashley P
authors: AP
authors: Kennedy
authors: Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, United States.
authors: Matthew S
authors: MS
authors: Finger
authors: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States.
authors: Arpana
authors: A
authors: Agrawal
authors: Division of Clinical Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, United States.
authors: James M
authors: JM
authors: Bjork
authors: Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.
authors: Lindsay A
authors: LA
authors: Farrer
authors: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
authors: Dana B
authors: DB
authors: Hancock
authors: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Hussong
authors: Center for the Clinical Trials Network, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, United States.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Wakim
authors: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
authors: Wayne
authors: W
authors: Huggins
authors: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
authors: Tabitha
authors: T
authors: Hendershot
authors: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
authors: Destiney S
authors: DS
authors: Nettles
authors: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Pratt
authors: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Maiese
authors: National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States.
authors: Heather A
authors: HA
authors: Junkins
authors: National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States.
authors: Erin M
authors: EM
authors: Ramos
authors: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
authors: Lisa C
authors: LC
authors: Strader
authors: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
authors: Carol M
authors: CM
authors: Hamilton
authors: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.
authors: Kenneth J
authors: KJ
authors: Sher
mesh_terms: D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D006801:Humans; D054577:National Institute on Drug Abuse (U.S.); D012107:Research Design; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014481:United States
keywords: Data harmonization; Gene–environment interactions; Measure commonality; Standard measures; Substance use, abuse, and addiction