{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: No evidence of the clinical utility of single-item breakpoint to inform on tobacco demand in persons with substance use disorders.
{Author}: González-Roz A;Secades-Villa R;Aonso-Diego G;Weidberg S;Fernández-Hermida JR;
{Journal}: Psychopharmacology (Berl)
{Volume}: 238
{Issue}: 9
{Year}: Sep 2021
{Factor}: 4.415
{DOI}: 10.1007/s00213-021-05875-y
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Behavioral economics has shown that single-item demand indicators are promising for capturing crucial aspects of nicotine reinforcement. It is suggested that brief breakpoint measures perform comparably to full-length demand indices in characterizing nicotine dependence; however, there have been no thorough assessments of their validity in clinical settings.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>This study aimed to assess the validity and accuracy of a single-item breakpoint in informing on tobacco demand.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The sample consisted of 88 treatment-seeking smokers (% males = 70.5%) enrolled in substance use treatment. Participants provided data on smoking characteristics and completed the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, a single-item breakpoint measure and a 14-item cigarette purchase task (CPT). Hierarchical regressions were performed to compare the predictive capability of a single-item breakpoint and full-length tobacco demand indicators in determining nicotine addiction severity.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The single-item breakpoint was significantly correlated with all indices stemmed from the CPT and both latent factors (all r values = .250-.368). Neither the brief breakpoint nor the full-length breakpoint significantly predicted nicotine dependence. After controlling for sex and smoking variables, factor 2 [β = .565, p < .001] and its observed variables Omax [β = .279, p = .006], 1/elasticity [β = .340, p = .001], and intensity [β = .551, p < .001], robustly predicted nicotine dependence severity.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Our findings do not support the validity of single-item breakpoint measures for characterizing nicotine dependence in substance users. In a bid to foster translational research, brief demand measures capturing Omax, intensity, and elasticity should be developed.