TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY OF THE ALCOHOL AND DRUG-USE DISORDER SECTIONSOF THE SCHEDULES FOR CLINICAL-ASSESSMENT IN NEUROPSYCHIATRY (SCAN)

This report presents the results of a test-retest reliability study of the alcohol and drug dependence, as well as harmful use/abuse were in vestigated in Ankara, Turkey and Farmington, Connecticut (US). Reliabi lities for the past year, prior to past year, and lifetime diagnosis o f alcohol and drug use disorders were evaluated using ICD-IO, DSM-III- R and DSM-IV criteria. The results indicate that SCAN alcohol and drug diagnosis have good to excellent levels of reliability for dependence across different substances, different diagnostic systems, and differ ent cultural groups. Diagnostic classification of alcohol and drug abu se/harmful use was considerably less reliable. Implications of the fin dings are discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.