Test–re‐test reliability of DSM‐IV adopted criteria for 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) abuse and dependence: a cross‐national study
Addiction August 4, 2009 Linda B. Cottler, Kit Sang Leung, Arbi Ben Abdallah 56 citations
Among 593 people who had used MDMA more than five times in their lives, 15% met criteria for abuse and 59% for dependence under the DSM-IV classification. The diagnostic categories showed moderate test-retest reliability across St. Louis, Miami, and Sydney. The most common dependence criteria were continued use despite knowing it caused physical or psychological problems (87%) and withdrawal (68%). Physically hazardous use was the most prevalent abuse criterion. Seventeen of 19 withdrawal symptoms were reliably reported. Discrepant responses between interviews were mostly due to changing interpretation of questions rather than lying. The pattern of withdrawal symptoms suggests MDMA dependence should be classified separately from other hallucinogens.