The measurement of substance use disapproval: different information capacity of disapproval of licit and illicit psychoactive substances along a spectrum of substance use disapproval.

Objectives: Approval/disapproval of substance use behavior might have a role in the development and persistence of substance use. However, less is known about the measurement function of disapproval of using different types of psychoactive substances. By using item response analyses, the present study aimed to examine the latent structure as well as item-level measurement properties of the construct of substance use disapproval. Methods: Nationally representative adult samples derived from the National Survey on Addiction Problems in Hungary from 2015 (N=2274) and 2019 (N=1385) were used in the present study. Dichotomous items measured the disapproval of eleven forms of substance use, such as smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and different forms of illicit drug use. Results: A unidimensional measurement model of substance use disapproval was supported. Item response analyses indicated that disapproval of alcohol use and cigarette smoking had moderate discrimination capacity and were located at moderately low-moderately high levels of the substance use disapproval continuum, whereas illicit substance use forms had high-very high discrimination capacities and were ranged at low-very low levels of the disapproval spectrum. Disapproval of experimenting with heroin, ecstasy and designer stimulants had the highest information capacity in 2015, whereas in 2019 disapproval of experimenting with synthetic cannabinoids and experimenting with and using occasionally cannabis were the most informative. Conclusions: Less permissive attitudes were shown for all forms of illicit drug use compared to alcohol and cigarette use. Discrimination and difficulty levels of disapproval of substance use might be associated with legal status of psychoactive substances. (Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2022; 24(2): 85­94)

FOXN3 and GDNF Polymorphisms as Common Genetic Factors of Substance Use and Addictive Behaviors.

Epidemiological and phenomenological studies suggest shared underpinnings between multiple addictive behaviors. The present genetic association study was conducted as part of the Psychological and Genetic Factors of Addictions study (n = 3003) and aimed to investigate genetic overlaps between different substance use, addictive, and other compulsive behaviors. Association analyses targeted 32 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, potentially addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other drugs), and potentially addictive or compulsive behaviors (internet use, gaming, social networking site use, gambling, exercise, hair-pulling, and eating). Analyses revealed 29 nominally significant associations, from which, nine survived an FDRbl correction. Four associations were observed between FOXN3 rs759364 and potentially addictive behaviors: rs759364 showed an association with the frequency of alcohol consumption and mean scores of scales assessing internet addiction, gaming disorder, and exercise addiction. Significant associations were found between GDNF rs1549250, rs2973033, CNR1 rs806380, DRD2/ANKK1 rs1800497 variants, and the "lifetime other drugs" variable. These suggested that genetic factors may contribute similarly to specific substance use and addictive behaviors. Specifically, FOXN3 rs759364 and GDNF rs1549250 and rs2973033 may constitute genetic risk factors for multiple addictive behaviors. Due to limitations (e.g., convenience sampling, lack of structured scales for substance use), further studies are needed. Functional correlates and mechanisms underlying these relationships should also be investigated.

[The National Survey on Addiction Problems in Hungary 2019 (NSAPH): Methodology and sample description]. / Az Országos Lakossági Adatfelvétel az Addiktológiai Problémákról 2019 (OLAAP) reprezentatív lakossági felmérés módszertana.

OBJECTIVES: This paper presents the methods and main methodological fi ndings of the third wave of data collection of the National Survey on Addiction Problems in Hungary (NSAPH). In addition to mapping the addiction problems of the Hungarian population and monitoring the general population addiction trends in Hungary, the research formulates objectives for the development of the methodology used in addiction research. The study presents the measurement tools used in the research, the sampling and data collection strategy, as well as the methodological results related to sample access and the reliability and validity of the applied measurement tools used. METHODS: The research was carried out on a nationally representative sample of the Hungarian adult population aged 16-64 yrs (gross sample 1800, net sample 1385 persons). The extent of the theoretical margin of error in the sample is ±2,6%, at a reliability level of 95%. Sample attrition was corrected by matrix weighting by layer categories. The research aimed at studying the different type substance use behaviours (smoking, alcohol use and other psychoactive substances) as well as several behavioural addictions (problematic internet use, problematic online gaming, problematic social media use, problematic gambling, exercise addictions, eating disorders, work addiction, compulsive buying, problematic mobile phone use). RESULTS: Based on the analysis of reliability and the extent of non-sampling errors within the context of the database we concluded that valid and reliable statements can be formulated on the basis of the research data regarding the current characteristics and patterns of the examined addiction behaviours. At the same time, in case of psychoactive substance use the observed trends of non-sampling errors indicate that the analysis of the changes requires outstanding attention whilst interpreting them; in some cases correction procedures might become necessary during estimating and interpreting the tendencies. This wave of the research was the first which examined the reliability and validity of prevalence data related to behavioural addictions. Based on this analysis it can be said that these data are less exposed to non-sampling errors than the ones related to substance use.

Co-occurrences of substance use and other potentially addictive behaviors: Epidemiological results from the Psychological and Genetic Factors of the Addictive Behaviors (PGA) Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Changes in the nomenclature of addictions suggest a significant shift in the conceptualization of addictions, where non-substance related behaviors can also be classified as addictions. A large amount of data provides empirical evidence that there are overlaps of different types of addictive behaviors in etiology, phenomenology, and in the underlying psychological and biological mechanisms. Our aim was to investigate the co-occurrences of a wide range of substance use and behavioral addictions. METHODS: The present epidemiological analysis was carried out as part of the Psychological and Genetic Factors of the Addictive Behaviors (PGA) Study, where data were collected from 3,003 adolescents and young adults (42.6% males; mean age 21 years). Addictions to psychoactive substances and behaviors were rigorously assessed. RESULTS: Data is provided on lifetime occurrences of the assessed substance uses, their co-occurrences, the prevalence estimates of specific behavioral addictions, and co-occurrences of different substance use and potentially addictive behaviors. Associations were found between (i) smoking and problematic Internet use, exercising, eating disorders, and gambling (ii) alcohol consumption and problematic Internet use, problematic online gaming, gambling, and eating disorders, and (iii) cannabis use and problematic online gaming and gambling. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a large overlap between the occurrence of these addictions and behaviors and underlies the importance of investigating the possible common psychological, genetic and neural pathways. These data further support concepts such as the Reward Deficiency Syndrome and the component model of addictions that propose a common phenomenological and etiological background of different addictive and related behaviors.

[The methodology and sample description of the National Survey on Addiction Problems in Hungary 2015 (NSAPH 2015)]. / Az Országos Lakossági Adatfelvétel az Addiktológiai Problémákról 2015 (OLAAP 2015) reprezentatív lakossági felmérés módszertana és a minta leíró jellemzoi.

This paper introduces the methods and methodological findings of the National Survey on Addiction Problems in Hungary (NSAPH 2015). Use patterns of smoking, alcohol use and other psychoactive substances were measured as well as that of certain behavioural addictions (problematic gambling - PGSI, DSM-V, eating disorders - SCOFF, problematic internet use - PIUQ, problematic on-line gaming - POGO, problematic social media use - FAS, exercise addictions - EAI-HU, work addiction - BWAS, compulsive buying - CBS). The paper describes the applied measurement techniques, sample selection, recruitment of respondents and the data collection strategy as well. Methodological results of the survey including reliability and validity of the measures are reported. The NSAPH 2015 research was carried out on a nationally representative sample of the Hungarian adult population aged 16-64 yrs (gross sample 2477, net sample 2274 persons) with the age group of 18-34 being overrepresented. Statistical analysis of the weight-distribution suggests that weighting did not create any artificial distortion in the database leaving the representativeness of the sample unaffected. The size of the weighted sample of the 18-64 years old adult population is 1490 persons. The extent of the theoretical margin of error in the weighted sample is ±2,5%, at a reliability level of 95% which is in line with the original data collection plans. Based on the analysis of reliability and the extent of errors beyond sampling within the context of the database we conclude that inconsistencies create relatively minor distortions in cumulative prevalence rates; consequently the database makes possible the reliable estimation of risk factors related to different substance use behaviours. The reliability indexes of measurements used for prevalence estimates of behavioural addictions proved to be appropriate, though the psychometric features in some cases suggest the presence of redundant items. The comparison of parameters of errors beyond sample selection in the current and previous data collections indicates that trend estimates and their interpretation requires outstanding attention and in some cases even correction procedures might become necessary.

Psychometric properties of the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test in Hungarian samples of adolescents and young adults.

AIM: The aim of our study was to analyze psychometric properties of the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST). METHODS: Our sample comprised Hungarian high school (n = 476; male 56.3%; mean age 19.0 years, SD = 0.65 years) and college students (n = 439; male 65.1%; mean age 23.9 years, SD = 1.56 years) who reported cannabis use in the past year. The sample covered the five biggest universities of Hungary. Besides the CAST, participants responded to the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Factor structure was analyzed by a confirmatory factor analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was made to assess cut-off scores. Data collection took place in 2010. RESULTS: CAST proved to be a reliable (Cronbach's α 0.71 and 0.76) one-dimensional measure. Regarding both cannabis dependence and cannabis use disorders, a cut-off of 2 points proved to be ideal in both samples, resulting in optimal specificity, negative predictive values and accuracy, but less than optimal positive predictive values (dependence) and low sensitivity (cannabis use disorder). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In line with former results, the CAST proved to be an adequate measure for the screening of cannabis-related problems among adolescents and young adults in an Eastern European country where this scale has not been studied before.