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Original article

Retest reliabilities of decision-making and cognitive control measures in addictive disorders

Published Online:August 30, 2016https://doi.org/10.1024/0939-5911/a000430

Abstract

Abstract.Aims: Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed on impaired decision-making and cognitive control deficits as putative risk factors for Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders (SAD). Adequate stability of measures is essential for this approach. To improve our knowledge, we aimed 1) to analyse retest reliabilities of such behavioural measures and 2) to compare retest reliabilities between SAD and controls. Methods: In a quasi-experimental design we recruited a convenience sample of three groups: A Gambling Disorder group (n = 26), a Nicotine Dependence group (n = 42), both diagnosed according to DSM-IV, and a healthy control group (n = 52). Participants performed two test sessions within 3 – 4 weeks with six tasks assessing decision-making and cognitive control. Results: Retest reliabilities, indicated by intraclass correlation coefficients, varied extremely between tasks and parameters ranging from 0.31 (poor) to 0.82 (excellent) with the majority ranging from 0.40 (fair) to 0.74 (good). Importantly, retest reliabilities differed significantly between the SAD groups and the control group. Conclusions: Retest reliabilities of decision-making and cognitive control measures are adequate for longitudinal and intervention studies of SAD, although tasks parameters should be selected carefully. However, group differences in retest reliabilities may result in misleading group and intervention effects. To minimize measurement error, studies investigating longitudinal designs may apply latent variable models.


Retest-Reliabilität von Verhaltensmaßen bei Abhängigkeitsstörungen

Zusammenfassung.Ziele: Defizite im Entscheidungsverhalten und in kognitiver Kontrolle sind mögliche Risikofaktoren für Störungen durch Substanzkonsum und abhängige Verhaltensweisen (SAD). Längsschnitt- und Interventionsstudien zu diesen Fragestellungen setzen eine adäquate Stabilität der entsprechenden Messinstrumente voraus. Wir haben dazu 1) die Retest-Reliabilität dazugehöriger Verhaltensmaße analysiert und 2) die Retest-Reliabilität zwischen SAD und Kontrollen verglichen. Methode: In einem quasi-experimentellen Design rekrutierten wir eine Gelegenheitsstichprobe folgender drei Gruppen: Eine Gruppe mit einer Störung durch Glücksspielen (n = 26) und eine mit Nikotinabhängigkeit (n = 42), jeweils diagnostiziert nach DSM-IV, sowie ein gesunde Kontrollgruppe (n = 52). Die Teilnehmer bearbeiteten an zwei Untersuchungszeitpunkten innerhalb von 3 – 4 Wochen jeweils 6 Aufgaben zur Erfassung von Entscheidungsverhalten und kognitiver Kontrolle. Ergebnisse: Die Retest-Reliabilität, erfasst mit dem Intraklassen-Korrelationskoeffizienten, variierte stark zwischen den Aufgaben und deren Parametern von 0.31 (schlecht) bis 0.82 (exzellent), wobei die meisten zwischen 0.40 (akzeptabel) und 0.74 (gut) lagen. Weiterhin unterschied sich die Retest-Reliabilität signifikant zwischen den SAD-Gruppen und der Kontrollgruppe. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Retest-Reliabilität von Verhaltensmaßen zur Erfassung von Entscheidungsverhalten und kognitiver Kontrolle ist adäquat für Längsschnitt- und Interventionsstudien bei SAD, wobei die Aufgabenparameter sorgfältig ausgewählt werden sollten. Es ist wichtig in solchen Studiendesigns zu beachten, dass Gruppenunterschiede in der Retest-Reliabilität der Instrumente zu falschen Gruppen- und Interventionseffekten führen können. Um den Messfehler zu verringern, werden bei Längsschnittdesigns latente Variablenmodelle empfohlen.

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