Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the reliability and provide evidence for the validity of the Spanish version of the Substance Dependence Severity Scale (SDSS). Methods: A total of 211 substance abusers recruited at a public center that provides treatment for substance-related disorders in an outpatient setting were assessed. Reliability was estimated by Cronbach's α and test-retest. Validity evidence was studied by analyzing the relationships with the European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI) and Health-Related Quality of Life for Drug Abusers (HRQoLDA). Results: Adequate reliability coefficients were found for the dependence scales of all addressed substances (α = 0.737 to 0.877; test-retest r = 0.796-0.952). Low internal consistency was found for the abuse scales (α = 0.329-0.694), and adequate test-retest coefficients on alcohol, cocaine and heroin (test-retest r = 0.708-0.902). The reliability of the cannabis abuse scales was inadequate. The SDSS scores showed significant relationships with the EuropASI and HRQoLDA dimensions. Conclusions: The psychometric analyses validate the use of the severity of dependence scales. The SDSS abuse scales must be used taking the limitations detected into consideration.

The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS; Kessler et al., 2005) is one of the most extensively used scales to detect attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. The aim of this work is to analyze the psychometric properties of the 18 ASRS items in people with substance use disorders (SUDs). Furthermore, we aimed to (a) confirm or, if necessary, modify the dichotomization criteria of the items proposed by the authors, and (b) identify the most informative items for a screening version or, when applicable, confirm the use of the 6 items that comprise the initially proposed short version. The ASRS was completed for 170 patients with SUD at the Provincial Unit for Drug Dependence of Huelva, Spain, aged 16 to 78 years. Two Rasch models-the dichotomous Rasch model and the Rating Scale Model (RSM) for polytomous items-were used in the psychometric analysis. The ASRS items fitted the RSM adequately, but the locations of the items along the underlying construct led us to propose new criteria of dichotomization. After analyzing the information function of dichotomized items, we identified 6 items that should integrate a new screening scale. Our dichotomization proposal is different from the original one and takes into account the different weights of the items. The selected screening version showed better metric properties than the other analyzed versions. Future research should test our proposal by using external criteria and to obtain evidences for other populations, cultures, or patient profiles.

The Substance Dependence Severity Scale -SDSS-is one of the few scales that assesses substance dependence and abuse according DSM criteria in dimensional terms. Several studies have provided evidence of psychometric validity and reliability in its English version, but there is no Spanish version available. The aim of this work was to describe the adaptation process of the English version of the SDSS into Spanish, and provide preliminary results on its reliability and validity evidence.Participants were 146 patients (79.6% male), consumers of alcohol, cocaine, heroin and cannabis admitted to treatment in the Drug Abuse Centre Services of Huelva. Besides the SDSS, the EUROPASI and the Health Related Quality of Life for Drug Abusers test -HRQOLDAwere also administered.The Substance Dependence Severity Scale -SDSS-has shown adequate psychometric properties in terms of the rates of discrimination and internal consistency (α=0.881 for alcohol; α=0.814 for cocaine; α=0.531 for cannabis; α=0.785 for heroin). However, the scale assessing abuse showed poorer results. Concerning the validity evidence, the evidence based on internal structure showed a unidimensional structure. Preliminary results support the use of the Substance Dependence Severity Scale. The severity scale, which evaluates abuse criteria, needs further empirical evidence to assess its utility. Therefore, its current version is not recommended for use.Keywords: Substance Dependence Severity Scale -SDSS-; adaptation, reliability and validity, severity of dependence.La Substance Dependence Severity Scale -SDSS-es una de las pocas escalas que evalúa la dependencia y abuso a sustancias según criterios DSM en términos dimensionales. Diferentes estudios psicométricos han aportado evidencias de validez y fiabilidad en su versión inglesa, aunque no se dispone de una versión en español. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido describir el proceso de adaptación seguido de la versión inglesa de la SDSS al castellano, y aportar resultados preliminares sobre su fiabilidad y evidencias de validez.Han participado en el estudio 146 pacientes (79.6% hombres) admitidos a tratamiento en el Centro Provincial de Drogodependencias de Huelva consumidores de alcohol, cocaína, heroína y cannabis. Además de la SDSS, se administró la EUROPASI y el Test para la Evaluación de la Calidad de Vida en Adictos a Sustancias Psicoactivas -TECVASP-.La escala de gravedad de la dependencia ha mostrado adecuadas propiedades psicométricas en términos de sus índices de discriminación y de consistencia interna (α=0.881 para alcohol; α=0.814 para cocaína; α=0.531 para cannabis; α=0.785 para heroína).En cambio la escala que evalúa el abuso ha mostrado resultados más deficientes. Sobre las evidencias de validez, las evidencias basadas en la estructura interna han mostrado una estructura unidimensional.Además, las evidencias obtenidas basadas en la relación con otras variables apoyan empíricamente las relaciones teóricas postuladas.Los resultados preliminares apoyan el uso de la escala de gravedad de la dep...

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