Psychology RootsTable of Contents
Leeds Dependence Questionnaire
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Leeds Dependence Questionnaire”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Leeds Dependence Questionnaire
Scale Name
Leeds Dependence Questionnaire
Author Details
Duncan Raistrick, Jackie Bradshaw, Gillian Tober, Jeremy Weiner, Jeff Allison, and Carolyn Healey
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ), developed by Raistrick et al. (1994), is a 10-item self-report scale designed to measure the severity of dependence on a variety of substances, with a focus on alcohol and opiates, in the context of treatment evaluation. Published in Addiction, the LDQ assesses core elements of the dependence syndrome, as defined by Edwards and Gross (1976), including preoccupation, salience, compulsion to start, planning, maximizing effect, narrowing of repertoire, compulsion to continue, primacy of effect, constancy of state, and cognitive set. It maps onto ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria for substance dependence, providing a unidimensional, continuous measure of dependence severity across substances.
Participants rate each item based on their experiences over the past month on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = “Never” to 3 = “Nearly always”). Total scores range from 0–30, with higher scores indicating greater dependence severity (0–10 = mild, 11–20 = moderate, 21–30 = severe). The LDQ was validated with four subsamples (N = 174, mean age ≈ 34 years, mixed gender, UK-based, including alcohol and opiate users), with subsequent studies involving larger clinical samples (N = 1,681) and young adults (N = 203, mean age ≈ 25 years).
Approximately 60–80% of clinical samples scored in the moderate-to-severe range. The LDQ correlates with the Severity of Dependence Scale (r ≈ 0.60–0.80) and measures of psychological distress (r ≈ 0.40–0.60). It is used in clinical psychology, addiction treatment, and research to screen for dependence, monitor treatment progress, and evaluate program outcomes. The LDQ is freely available and widely used due to its brevity and applicability across substances.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scale from Raistrick et al. (1994) or authorized sources (e.g., Addiction journal, Leeds Addiction Unit), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (adults with substance use, particularly alcohol or opiates) that the questionnaire assesses dependence symptoms, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 10-item scale in a clinical, community, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate experiences over the past month.
- Estimated completion time is 3–5 minutes.
- Ensure a private, supportive environment; provide support resources (e.g., addiction helplines, counseling services) and adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The LDQ demonstrates strong psychometric properties (Raistrick et al., 1994; Heather et al., 2001; Kelly et al., 2010). Internal consistency is high (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.90–0.94) across adult and young adult samples (N = 174–1,681). Test-retest reliability is robust (r = 0.95 over 2–5 days, N = 33). Principal components analysis supports a unidimensional structure, accounting for 58–64% of variance.
Convergent validity is evidenced by correlations with the Severity of Dependence Scale (r ≈ 0.60–0.80), Addiction Severity Index (r ≈ 0.50–0.70), and DSM-IV substance dependence criteria (r ≈ 0.55–0.75). Discriminant validity is shown by weak correlations with unrelated constructs like general life satisfaction (r < 0.20). Criterion validity is supported by its sensitivity to mild, moderate, and severe dependence and ability to detect treatment-related changes (Tober et al., 2000).
The LDQ has been validated for alcohol, opiates, cannabis, stimulants, and benzodiazepines. Pairing with measures like the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) or Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) enhances comprehensive assessment.
Available Versions
10-Items
Reference
Raistrick, D., Bradshaw, J., Tober, G., Weiner, J., Allison, J., & Healey, C. (1994). Development of the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ): a questionnaire to measure alcohol and opiate dependence in the context of a treatment evaluation package. Addiction, 89(5), 563-572.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire measure?
It measures the severity of substance dependence across various substances, focusing on alcohol and opiates.
Who is the target population?
Adults with substance use, particularly alcohol or opiate dependence.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 3–5 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it screens for dependence severity and monitors treatment progress.
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
Share With Us
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.
