Estudio de fiabilidad y validez de la version espanola de la escala severity of dependence scale (SDS)

The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) is a brief, self-administered scale devised to assessment the degree of dependence on a different types of drugs. This scale explicitly assess the 'psychologic' components of dependence, such as 'impaired control over drug taking' and 'preoccupation and anxieties about drug use'. The aim of this paper is to analyze the internal consistency and reliability of the spanish version of the SDS, as well as the concurrent validity on DSM-IV criteria. A sample compound by sixty two heroin users diagnosed by opioid dependence DSM-IV criteria and treated in two drug treatment centre, were evaluated. The test-retest reliability is moderately high (C.C.I. = 0.72). The internal consistency is not adequately to confirm the SDS homogeneity (α=0.55) and the Principal Component Analyses (PCAs) revealed a two factor solution. The relationship between SDS total score and Index of Definition give by CATEGO 5 system (severity of dependence in DSM-IV criteria) is inadequate (r=0.48). The disagreement with other vality studies and SDS clinical application are discussed.