The Puzzling Unidimensionality of the DSM Substance Use Diagnoses

9 Pages Posted: 19 Jun 2013

Date Written: June 14, 2013

Abstract

There is a perennial expert debate about the criteria to be included or excluded for the DSM diagnoses of substance use dependence. Yet analysts routinely report evidence for the unidimensionality of the resulting checklist. If in fact the checklist is unidimensional, the experts are wrong that the criteria are distinct, so either the experts are mistaken or the reported unidimensionality is spurious. I argue for the latter position, and suggest that the traditional reflexive measurement model is inappropriate for the DSM; a formative measurement model would be a more accurate characterization of the bureaucratic way the checklist is created, and a network or causal model would be a more appropriate foundation for a scientifically grounded diagnostic system.

Keywords: DSM, substance use, dependence, diagnosis, psychometrics

JEL Classification: Z00, C00

Suggested Citation

MacCoun, Robert, The Puzzling Unidimensionality of the DSM Substance Use Diagnoses (June 14, 2013). UC Berkeley Public Law Research Paper No. 2280538, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2280538 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2280538

Robert MacCoun (Contact Author)

Stanford Law School ( email )

559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305-8610
United States
650-721-7031 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
36
Abstract Views
474
PlumX Metrics