Preliminary validity and reliability testing of a structured clinical interview for pathological gambling

Psychiatry Res. 2004 Aug 30;128(1):79-88. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2004.05.006.

Abstract

The psychometric properties of a clinician-administered, DSM-IV-based, structured clinical interview for pathological gambling (SCI-PG) were examined. Seventy-two consecutive subjects requesting treatment for gambling problems were administered the SCI-PG. Reliability and validity were determined. Classification accuracy was examined using longitudinal course of illness. The SCI-PG demonstrated excellent inter-rater and test-retest reliability. Concurrent validity was observed with the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). Discriminant validity was observed with measures of anxiety and depression. The SCI-PG demonstrated both high sensitivity and specificity based on longitudinal assessment. The SCI-PG demonstrated excellent reliability and validity in diagnosing PG in subjects presenting with gambling problems. These findings require replication in other groups to examine their generalizability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Demography
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / epidemiology
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Gambling / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological*
  • Male
  • Observer Variation
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index