The Diagnostic Criteria of Gambling Disorder of DSM-5 in Chinese Culture: By Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Item Response Theory (IRT)

Abstract

Problem and pathological gambling are currently known as gambling disorder as listed in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association in Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC, 2013). Nevertheless, in Hong Kong, the development of gambling disorder treatment and research is still at an infant stage (Shek, Chan & Wong in Int J Child Health Hum Dev 6(1):125–144, 2013). This article will discuss the diagnostic criteria gambling disorder listed in DSM-5 in Hong Kong context. With confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item response theory (IRT), the diagnostic criteria of gambling disorder listed in DSM-5 were found to be a reliable and valid assessment. With differential item function (DIF) analysis, it was found that the diagnostic criteria of gambling disorder listed in DSM-5 could discriminate those who experience and demonstrate gambling disorder. Hence, the aforementioned criteria could serve as a screening tool differentiating those who have or do not have gambling disorder. To facilitate the clinical procedure, the IRT results suggested a procedure of interviewing potential clients with the diagnostic criteria of gambling disorder for screening purpose.