Psychologische Diagnostik von Nikotinabhängigkeit und -missbrauch im Kindes- und Jugendalter

Abstract

Objectives: Epidemiological surveys pointed out the importance of nicotineassociated disorders in children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to analyze the assessment procedures that can be used to arrange the psychological-diagnostic process in children and adolescents with nicotineassociated disorders in an effective way and to point out needs for new developments in Germany. Methods: We analyzed relevant articles, books and manuals of published German assessment tools. The databases PsyContent, SpringerLink, PubMed as well as the engine Google-Scholar were screened using the terms „nicotine dependence“, „tobacco dependence“, „smoker“, „psychological assessment“, „children“ und „adolescents“. The published German assessment tools were evaluated regarding their psychometric properties and completeness. Results: There are deficiencies in the field of nicotine-specific asse ssment tools in Germany. The existing measures were not adapted and standardized for children and adolescents. International psychologica l assessments show new possibilities for improvements. Conclusion: At the moment only the DIA-X could be recommended to measure nicotine dependence in childhood and adolescence. The adaption of existing or the development of new assessments for nicotine-associated disorders with children and adolescents is desired immediately. The use of instruments based on the transtheoretical model cannot be advised until evaluation with children and adolescents.