Reliability of a Family Tree Questionnaire for Assessing Family History of Alcohol Problems

Author(s)

Robert E. Mann, Addiction Retearch Foundation
Linda C. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Mark B. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Daniel Pavan, Addiction Retearch Foundation

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

ISSN

0376-8716

Publication Date

5-1985

Abstract

The test-retest reliability of a brief, easily administered questionnaire to assess family history of drinking problems was studied. Twenty alcoholic and twenty non-alcoholic volunteers completed the questionnaire on each of two occasions separated by about 2 weeks. The reliability of classification of first- and second-degree relatives as problem drinkers or alcoholics was examined, using both liberal and conservative diagnostic criteria. In general, both sets of criteria produced satisfactory test-retest reliability; one possible exception occurred when alcoholics' second-degree relatives were classified using the conservative criteria. The liberal criteria seemed to provide a more sensitive index of familial alcoholism.

DOI

10.1016/0376-8716(85)90030-4

Volume

15

Issue

1-2

First Page

61

Last Page

67

NSUWorks Citation

Mann, R. E., Sobell, L. C., Sobell, M. B., Pavan, D. (1985). Reliability of a Family Tree Questionnaire for Assessing Family History of Alcohol Problems. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 15(1-2), 61-67.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/293