Development of the Gambling Disorder Identification Test: Results from an international Delphi and consensus process

Abstract

Objectives: Diverse instruments are used to measure problem gambling and Gambling Disorder intervention outcomes. The 2004 Banff consensus agreement proposed necessary features for reporting gambling treatment efficacy. To address the challenge of including these features in a single instrument, a process was initiated to develop the Gambling Disorder Identification Test (GDIT), as an instrument analogous to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test.Methods: Gambling experts from 10 countries participated in an international tworound Delphi (n = 61; n = 30), rating 30 items proposed for inclusion in the GDIT.Gambling researchers and clinicians from several countries participated in three consensus meetings (n = 10; n = 4; n = 3). User feedback was obtained from individuals with experience of problem gambling (n = 12) and from treatment-seekers with Gambling Disorder (n = 8).Results: Ten items fulfilled Delphi consensus criteria for inclusion in the GDIT (M ≥ 7 on a scale of 1-9 in the second round). Item-related issues were addressed, and four more items were added to conform to the Banff agreement recommendations, yielding a final draft version of the GDIT with 14 items in three domains: gambling behavior, gambling symptoms and negative consequences. Conclusions:This study established preliminary construct and face validity for the GDIT.

Policies and interventions to reduce harmful gambling: an international Delphi consensus and implementation rating study

“…This method is widely used in the health sciences and is regarded as the most rigorous method for determining group consensus. [23][24][25] In the gambling field, Delphi studies have been reported on: screening tests; 26 counsellor competencies; 27 and how friends, family, or members of the public can recognise and support someone with gambling problems, 28 but there has been no consensus study on effective measures for a public health approach. Accordingly, we aimed to determine evidence for consensus among an independent group of experts on effective measures that have potential for successful implementation in England.…”

The Gambling Disorders Identification Test (GDIT): Psychometric Evaluation of a New Comprehensive Measure for Gambling Disorder and Problem Gambling

“…In the GDIT item selection (Molander et al, 2019), it became evident that many items from previous gambling instruments assessed gambling-related school, work, and relationships problems lumped together in single items, equivalent to current and previous DSM diagnostic criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 1994. This particular double-and triple-barreled phrasing issue was also observed in the Delphi process (Molander et al, 2020) and was later adjusted, during the consensus meetings, into two GDIT items, assessing relationship problems in one item (GDIT Item 13 ), and gambling-related school or work problems in another (GDIT Item 14 ). Although the BCA (Walker et al, 2006) recommends that gambling-related problems concerning employment and productivity should be measured as a single feature in gambling instruments, most psychometric studies have evaluated gambling-related problems regarding work and/or relationships combined (i.e., in single items using double-barreled phrasing).…”

“…The GDIT was developed in a recent international Delphi and consensus process, aiming to establish a comprehensive measure which corresponded to a previous international research agreement regarding features of gambling outcome measures, known as the Note. GDIT = the gambling disorder identification test (Molander et al, 2019(Molander et al, , 2020; CFA = confirmatory factor analysis, using the weighted least square mean and variance adjusted estimator.…”

“…Factor loadings based on confirmatory factor analysis were excellent to very good with the exception of Note. ASRS = the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (Kessler et al, 2005); GDIT = the gambling disorder identification test (Molander et al, 2019(Molander et al, , 2020; MDQ = the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (Hirschfeld et al, 2000); PGSI = the problem gambling severity index (Ferris & Wynne, 2001); PPGM = the problem and pathological gambling measure (Williams & Volberg, 2013); WHOQOL-BREF = the World Health Organization Quality of Life, 26item version (Skevington et al, 2004).…”

“…GDIT. The GDIT (Molander et al, 2019(Molander et al, , 2020, previously described, is a newly developed gambling measure. The GDIT consists of 14 items with frequency-based response alternatives, in three domains: Gambling behavior GDIT Items 1-3 (scored 0-6), gambling symptoms GDIT Items 4-10 (scored 0-4), and negative consequences GDIT Items 11-14 (scored 0, 2 or 4).…”