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On the latent structure of problem gambling: a taxometric analysis
Author(s) -
James Richard J. E.,
O'Malley Claire,
Tunney Richard J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/add.12648
Subject(s) - categorical variable , psychology , harm , addiction , interpretation (philosophy) , social psychology , construct (python library) , statistics , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , mathematics , computer science , programming language
Aims To test whether problem gambling is a categorical or dimensional disorder on the basis of two problem gambling assessments. This distinction discriminates between two different conceptualizations of problem gambling: one that problem gambling is defined by its addictive properties, the other that it is a continuum of harm. Method Using The B ritish G ambling P revalence S urvey 2010, a nationally representative sample of the U nited K ingdom conducted by the N ational C entre for S ocial R esearch, five different taxometric analyses were carried out on cases from two problem gambling screens: the P roblem G ambling S everity I ndex ( PGSI ) and a measure derived from the DSM ‐ IV P athological G ambling criteria. Two further analyses were conducted on the total scores for these measures. Results There was strong evidence that both scales were measuring a categorical construct. Fit indices consistently supported a categorical interpretation [comparison curve fit index ( CCFI ) > 0.6]. The PGSI analysis indicated the presence of a taxon ( CCFI s = 0.633, 0.756). The analysis conducted on the adapted DSM ‐ IV criteria indicated stronger quantitative support for a taxon ( CCFI s = 0.717, 0.811 and 0.756) but items probing a loss of control were inconsistent. The taxometric analyses of both scales support a categorical interpretation ( CCFI s = 0.628, 0.567), but extreme caution should be used due to high nuisance covariance. Conclusions Two problem gambling screens (the P roblem G ambling S everity I ndex and a measure derived from the DSM ‐ IV P athological G ambling criteria) appear to measure a categorical construct that taps into a categorical, loss of control model of problem gambling. There is some evidence that the two screens measure different aspects of an addiction construct.