Confirmatory analysis of the adolescent obsessive compulsive drinking scale (A-OCDS): a measure of 'craving' and problem drinking in adolescents/young adults.

The A-OCDS was modeled after the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) to establish an instrument appropriate for use in adolescent/young adult populations. Initial exploratory analysis of the A-OCDS revealed two factors, namely "irresistibility" and "interference," which were specific and sensitive to identifying problematic drinking. The study objective was to administer the A-OCDS to obtain data for confirmatory analyses regarding the dimensionality of the scale, its reliability and its sensitivity and specificity in identifying problem drinkers. The confirmatory factor analysis supported the two previously identified factors. Using logistic regression to predict drinking classifications, the predictive value of the subscale scores for predicting problem drinking was statistically significant (irresistibility p = 0.0001, and interference p = 0.0001). We concluded that the A-OCDS was confirmed as a scale for identifying certain dimensions of "craving" and problematic drinking in adolescents/young adults. This scale may be useful as a screening tool, as well as monitoring change over time.