Background:
There is growing evidence that problems associated with substance use disorders (eg dependence and abuse) are most appropriately conceptualized using one or more continuous dimensions rather than as categorical ‘yes/no’ entities. Taxometric analysis is a statistical technique specifically designed to test this assertion.
Method:
DSM-IV symptoms associated with the use of alcohol and cannabis dependence and abuse were subjected to a taxometric analysis using data from a large epidemiological survey of mental disorders in the general population.
Results:
Alcohol use problems were best explained by a latent, continuous dimension ranging from mild to severe, while problems associated with using cannabis were best explained by a latent discrete category.
Conclusions:
These findings have implications for the way that substance use problems are measured and classified and show specificity with regard to the type of substance under investigation.
