NOSOLOGICAL COMPARISONS OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG DIAGNOSES - A MULTISITE, MULTI-INSTRUMENT INTERNATIONAL STUDY

International nosological research was conducted to determine cross-sy stem agreement on alcohol and drug dependence and harmful use (abuse). ICD-10, DSM-IV and DSM-III-R diagnoses were compared in 1811 subjects from a variety of treatment and other types of settings from 12 sites around the world. Three diagnostic instruments were used: the Alcohol Use Disorders and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-Alcohol/ Drug-Revised (AUDADIS-ADR), the composite international diagnostic int erview (CIDI), and the schedules for clinical assessment in neuropsych iatry (SCAN). At seven of the study sites, two or more of these instru ments were used. Results for dependence diagnoses showed excellent cro ss-system agreement across sites and instruments, especially for curre nt diagnoses. Cross-system agreement for harmless use (abuse) was much lower and less consistent. Geographic location or culture appeared to have little influence on the results for either dependence or harmful use. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.