Author/Authors :
Akhavan-Behbahany, Mehrdad Institute for Cognitive Sciences Studies, Tehran, Iran , Ekhtiari, Hamed Institute for Cognitive Sciences Studies, Tehran, Iran , Effatpanah, Mohammad Ziaeian Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Ganjgahi, Habib Neuroimaging and Analysis Group - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Mokri, Azarakhsh Clinical Department - Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Hassani-Abharian, Peyman Institute for Cognitive Sciences Studies, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Introduction: Drug-craving as a multidimensional subjective experience recently has been
accepted as an addiction hallmark. Desire for Drug Questionnaire or DDQ is a well-known
questionnaire for measurement of drug craving severity. This study aimed to investigate the
psychometric properties of the DDQ among Iranian methamphetamine abusers.
Method: DDQ was translated from English into Farsi by language experts. The questionnaire was
then used for evaluation of craving among 50 male methamphetamine abusers. Then, DDQ
questionnaire' scores was subjected to an exploratory principal components factor analysis. To
assess construct validity of DDQ, the model was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis.
Internal consistency was examined by calculating cronbach’s alpha.
Results: Finally, the Persian version of DDQ was verified with 13 items and three factors. Three
factors with high eigenvalues were identified by (PCA) that accounted for 70.63% of the total
variance. Given the relative fit of the confirmatory factor model, the construct validity of the DDQ
was verified. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the total score of the questionnaire was 0.86.
Conclusion: The Farsi-translated version of DDQ questionnaires had good psychometric properties.
The questionnaire could be considered as a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of drug
craving level in Iranian methamphetamine abusers.
