A comprehensive review of the psychometric properties of the Drug Abuse Screening Test

Objetivo: Este estudio evalúa las propiedades psicométricas de dos versiones abreviadas de la Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10 y DAST-20) en una población adulta española.Metodología: Se administró la adaptación española del DAST, en sus versiones abreviadas de 20 y 10 ítems, a doscientos cincuenta y nueve sujetos (121 adictos a sustancias y 138 controles sanos). Analizamos las propiedades psicométricas de ambos instrumentos, utilizando criterios DSM-IV TR como patrón de referencia.Resultados: Ambas versiones registraron una alta consistencia interna (α = 0,93 y α = 0,89, para DAST-20 y DAST-10, respectivamente. El análisis factorial exploratorio extrajo cinco factores en el DAST-20, justificando el 74,12% de la varianza, y dos componentes en el DAST-10 que explicaron el 62,18% de ésta. Los puntos de corte > 5/6 (DAST-20) y ≥ 3 (DAST-10) evidenciaron un elevado grado de concordancia con loscriterios DSM-IV TR (κDAST-20 = 0,96 y κDAST-10 = 0,91), clasificando correctamente al 98,07% y 95,36% de los sujetos, respectivamente.Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos evidencian que tanto el DAST-10 como el DAST-20 son instrumentos válidos y fiables para detectar el abuso de drogas entre adultos.AbstractObjective: To evaluate psychometric properties of both brief DAST versions (DAST-10 and DAST-20) in Spanish adult population.Methods: 259 (121 drug users and 138 healthy controls) were explored. Both brief 10 and 20 items Spanish adapted DAST rating scales were administrated by skilled personnel. Psychometric properties of those questionnaires were analized using DSM-IV TR criteria as gold standard.Results: Both DAST versions registered a high internal reliability (α = .93 and α = .89 for DAST-20 and DAST-10, respectively). The exploratory factor analysis extracted five factors in the DAST 20, justifying 74.12 % of variance, and two components in the DAST-10 that explained 62.18% of this. Cut-off points ≥ 5/6 (DAST-20) and ≥ 3 (DAST-10) evidenced a high agreement with DSM-IV TR diagnosis (κDAST-20 = .96 y κDAST-10 = .91), correctly classifying the 98.07 % and 95.36 % of the subjects, respectively.Conclusion: In this study results show that both DAST-10 and DAST- 20 might be considered valid and reliable instruments in drug abuse detection in adult population.

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Psychometric and diagnostic properties of the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST): Comparing the DAST-20 vs. the DAST-10

Salud Mental ◽

10.17711/sm.0185-3325.2015.012 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 89-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Luis Villalobos-Gallegos ◽

◽

Alejandro Pérez ◽

Rebeca Mendoza ◽

Javier Graue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Abuse ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Screening Test ◽

Goodness Of Fit ◽

Factor Model ◽

Self Report ◽

Drug Use Disorders ◽

Drug Abuse Screening Test ◽

The One ◽

Diagnostic Properties

Abstract Background. The use of reliable and valid self-report questionnaires to identify drug use disorders (DUD) is a strategy that has shown usefulness for screening. One of the instruments more used for detection is the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST). The psychometric properties in the 20- and 10-item versions have been evaluated in other countries but in Mexico the psychometric and diagnostic properties of both versions are yet to be evaluated. Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric and diagnostic properties of DAST-20 and -10. Method. The sample included 565 participants receiving care in addiction residential centers. The DAST-20 was used as a measure to screen for DUD, and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0 was used as “gold standard” for the DUD diagnosis. Cronbach’s α and CFA were estimated in order to evaluate the psychometric properties. The Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to examine the diagnostic properties of each version. Results. Both versions obtained a Cronbach’s α ≥ .80, an optimal goodness of fit for the one factor model and Areas Under the Curve ≥ .90 (95% CI 87-93) for both versions. Discussion and conclusion. DAST-20 and -10 versions are reliable and valid tools for DUD assessment and screening.

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