Assessment of the validity of the CUDIT-R in a subpopulation of cannabis users.

BACKGROUND: The Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R) is an 8-item measure used to screen for cannabis use disorders (CUD). Despite widespread use of the tool, assessments of the CUDIT-R's validity in subpopulations are limited.

OBJECTIVES: The current study tested the structural validity and internal consistency of one of the most widely used screening measures for CUD (i.e., CUDIT-R) among a sample of military veterans who use cannabis for medicinal purposes.

METHODS: The present study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test the internal consistency and validity of the single-factor structure of the original screener among a sample of veterans who use cannabis for medicinal purposes (n = 90 [90% male]; Mage  = 55.31, SD = 15.37). Measures included demographics and the CUDIT-R, obtained from the baseline assessment of an ongoing longitudinal study.

RESULTS: The CFA revealed that the single-factor model previously validated in recreational using samples only accounted for 38.34% of total variance in responses on the CUDIT-R (χ2  = 66.09, df = 28, p < 0.05; RMSEA = 0.06) and demonstrated acceptable but modest internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.73).

CONCLUSION: More psychometric work is needed to determine the reliability and validity of using the CUDIT-R to screen for CUD among military veterans who use medicinal cannabis and other subpopulations of cannabis users.