Psychometric properties of the Polish version of two screening tests for gambling disorders: the Problem Gambling Severity Index and Lie/Bet Questionnaire

Psychiatr Psychol Law. 2021 Jan 10;28(4):585-598. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2020.1821824. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

To date, no screening tests for gambling disorders have been adapted and validated in Central and Eastern Europe. The aim of this study is to adapt the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and Lie/Bet questionnaire (Lie/Bet) and assess their psychometric properties once translated for use with the Polish population. A mixed sample (N = 300) was drawn from venues, social media, snowballing and treatment centers. PGSI had a higher coefficient of predictive power than Lie/Bet. However, differences between validated tests are not significant. Validation of screening tests of gambling disorders showed the necessity for verification of the scale of interpretation of results when conducting tests in Poland, changing cutoff values. The PGSI and Lie/Bet tests are short and easy to apply, they can be implemented in various types of institutions: for screening patients in primary health care facilities and for identifying comorbid gambling disorders in alcohol- and drug-dependence treatment facilities, and in social welfare centers.

Keywords: Europe; Lie/Bet; Problem Gambling Severity Index; gambling; problem gambling; psychometric properties; screening tests.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Found of Solving of Gambling Problems being in disposal of the Ministry of Health, grant: 3/HM/2016.