Lack of agreement between two questionnaires that evaluate the severity of the alcohol dependence syndrome.

The Short-Alcohol Dependence Data (SADD) and the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS) questionnaires, both designed to evaluate the degree of severity of alcohol dependence, were compared in a sample of 201 known alcoholics. Although a significant correlation was found between the scores obtained on the two scales (r = 0.61; P less than 0.01), respondents were classified differently by the two questionnaires (Kappa = 0.20). Subjects were generally considered less dependent by the ADS than by the SADD. Different possibilities that could explain the differential classification are discussed.