Performance of a Craving Criterion in DSM Alcohol Use Disorders

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective: Adding a craving criterion-presently in the International Classifi cation of Diseases, 10th Revision, diagnosis of alcohol dependence-has been under consideration as one possible improvement to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), and was recently proposed for inclusion by the DSM Substance-Related Disorders Work Group in the Fifth Revision of diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders. To inform cross-cultural applicability of this modifi cation, performance of a craving criterion was examined in emergency departments in four countries manifesting distinctly different culturally based drinking patterns (Mexico, Poland, Argentina, United States). Method: Exploratory factor analysis and item response theory were used to examine psychometric properties and individual item characteristics of the 11 DSM-IV abuse and dependence criteria with and without craving for each country separately. Differential item functioning analysis was performed to examine differences in the diffi culty of endorsement (severity) and discrimination of craving across countries. Results: Exploratory factor analysis found craving fi t well within a one-dimensional solution, and factor loadings were high across all countries. Results from item-response theory analyses indicated that both discrimination and diffi culty estimates for the craving item were located in the middle of the corresponding discrimination and diffi culty ranges for the other 11 items for each country but did not substantially increase the effi ciency (or information) of the overall diagnostic scheme.

Prevalence of ‘Food Addiction' as Measured with the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 in a Representative German Sample and Its Association with Sex, Age and Weight Categories

“…There has been a long debate about the symptom of craving in the context of addictive disorders [53,54]. In the field of addictive-like eating, craving has been found as one mediator for specific types of foods, BMI, and binge episodes [55].…”

Nosologic Comparisons of DSM-IV and DSM-5 Alcohol and Drug Use Disorders: Results From the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions–III

“…Conversely, the addition of craving was supported indirectly by findings from behavioral (Heinz et al, 2009;Miller & Goldsmith, 2001;Waters et al, 2004), imaging, pharmacology (O'Brien, 2005, and genetics research (Agrawal et al, 2013;Foroud et al, 2007). Findings from IRT studies (Cherpitel et al, 2010;Hasin et al, 2012;Keyes et al, 2011;Mewton et al, 2011) showed equivocal psychometric benefit from adding this criterion. However, from a clinical perspective, some (O'Brien, 2005;Tiffany & Wray, 2012) but not all (Munafò & Hitsman, 2010;Perkins, 2009) investigators view craving as key to an SUD diagnosis and its reduction as central to treatment.…”

DSM-5 latent classes of alcohol users in a population-based sample: Results from the São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey, Brazil

“…As reported by nearly a quarter of all current alcohol users (Cherpitel et al, 2010), this totals 11 criteria (O’Brien, 2010). There is the need to explore the applicability of this new diagnosis in different populations and countries (Mewton et al, 2011; Borges et al, 2010; Shmulewitz et al, 2010), including urban populations in middle-income countries such as Brazil, the largest country in Latin America with approximately 190 million inhabitants (The World Bank, 2013).…”