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The Measurement of Opiate Dependence
Author(s) -
SUTHERLAND GAY,
EDWARDS GRIFFITH,
TAYLOR COLIN,
PHILLIPS GRANIA,
GOSSOP MICHAEL,
BRADY RONALD
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
british journal of addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0952-0481
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1986.tb00360.x
Subject(s) - psychology , alcohol dependence , opiate , heroin , clinical psychology , psychiatry , cocaine dependence , variance (accounting) , addiction , drug , medicine , alcohol , biochemistry , chemistry , receptor , accounting , business
Summary The application of a dimensional concept of dependence which has received much attention over recent years in relation to alcohol, is explored here in relation to opiate dependence. A Severity of Opiate Dependence Questionnaire (SODQ) was completed by 98 subjects attending a New York drug treatment clinic. The factor structure of this questionnaire was explored and a strong first factor (39% of variance) identified which loaded on items conceptually related to a dimensional opiate dependence syndrome. Some preliminary investigation was made of issues relating to validity: SODQ correlated significantly with ‘number affixes a day’ and with a subjective measure of dependence (OSDQ), but not with quantity of heroin used or milestones in drug career. Research leads are discussed.