Title: The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS): psychometric properties of the SDS in English and Australian samples of heroin, cocaine and amphetamine users
Abstract: AddictionVolume 90, Issue 5 p. 607-614 The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS): psychometric properties of the SDS in English and Australian samples of heroin, cocaine and amphetamine users MICHAEL GOSSOP, Corresponding Author MICHAEL GOSSOP Drug Transitions Study, National Addiction Centre, The Maudsley, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UKDr Michael Gossop, Drug Transitions Study, National Addiction Centre, The Maudsley, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UK.Search for more papers by this authorSHANE DARKE, SHANE DARKE National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington NSW 2033, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorPAUL GRIFFITHS, PAUL GRIFFITHS Drug Transitions Study, National Addiction Centre, The Maudsley, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UKSearch for more papers by this authorJULIE HANDO, JULIE HANDO National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington NSW 2033, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorBEVERLY POWIS, BEVERLY POWIS Drug Transitions Study, National Addiction Centre, The Maudsley, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UKSearch for more papers by this authorWAYNE HALL, WAYNE HALL National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington NSW 2033, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorJOHN STRANG, JOHN STRANG Drug Transitions Study, National Addiction Centre, The Maudsley, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UKSearch for more papers by this author MICHAEL GOSSOP, Corresponding Author MICHAEL GOSSOP Drug Transitions Study, National Addiction Centre, The Maudsley, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UKDr Michael Gossop, Drug Transitions Study, National Addiction Centre, The Maudsley, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UK.Search for more papers by this authorSHANE DARKE, SHANE DARKE National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington NSW 2033, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorPAUL GRIFFITHS, PAUL GRIFFITHS Drug Transitions Study, National Addiction Centre, The Maudsley, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UKSearch for more papers by this authorJULIE HANDO, JULIE HANDO National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington NSW 2033, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorBEVERLY POWIS, BEVERLY POWIS Drug Transitions Study, National Addiction Centre, The Maudsley, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UKSearch for more papers by this authorWAYNE HALL, WAYNE HALL National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington NSW 2033, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this authorJOHN STRANG, JOHN STRANG Drug Transitions Study, National Addiction Centre, The Maudsley, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UKSearch for more papers by this author First published: May 1995 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.1995.9056072.xCitations: 892AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) was devised to provide a short, easily administered scale which can be used to measure the degree of dependence experienced by users of different types of drugs. The SDS contains five items, all of which are explicitly concerned with psychological components of dependence. These items are specifically concerned with impaired control over drug taking and with preoccupation and anxieties about drug use. The SDS was given to five samples of drug users in London and Sydney. The samples comprised users of heroin and users of cocaine in London, and users of amphetamines and methadone maintenance patients in Sydney. The SDS satisfies a number of criteria which indicate its suitability as a measure of dependence. All SDS items had significantly with a single factor, and the total SDS score was extremely highly correlated with the single factor score. The SDS score is related to behavioural patterns of drug taking that are, in themselves, indicators of dependence, such as dose, frequency of use, duration of use, daily use and degree of contact with other drug users; it also shows criterion validity in that drug users who have sought treatment at specialist and non-specialist agencies for drug problems have higher SDS scores than non-treatment samples. The psychometric properties of the scale were good in all five samples, despite being applied to primary users of different classes of drug, using different recruitment procedures in different cities in different countries. References Bryant, K., Rounsaville, B. & Babor, T. (1991) Coherence of the dependence syndrome in cocaine users, British Journal of Addiction, 86, 1299 – 1310. Darke, S., Swift, W., Hall, W. & Ross, M. (1994a) Predictors of injecting and injecting risk-taking behaviour among methadone maintenance clients, Addiction, 89, 311 – 316. 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Publication Year: 1995
Publication Date: 1995-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 488
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