Similarities and Differences in Diagnostic Scales.

A scale plays an important role as a diagnostic tool in discriminating between addicts and non-addicts. At the beginning of this chapter, we have briefly introduced the development of substance and non-substance addiction scales, which not only include alcohol addiction, nicotine addiction and pathological gambling, but also the disputed exercise and sex addiction. While it was found that almost all addiction scales contain items relating to social impairment, preoccupation, withdrawal, and tolerance, the variability is more pronounced with non-substance addiction scales. The comparison and trends of addiction scales in the future are discussed in relation to the concept of addiction, development of assessment theory, cross-cultural applicability, and cross-sample applicability.