Psychometric properties of the German version of the CRAFFT

Abstract Introduction The CRAFFT questionnaire is a widely utilized measure of problematic alcohol and drug use. The brief screening instrument has been translated into multiple languages, and some studies regarding its psychometric properties have been published. However, investigations on the factorial validity of the CRAFFT in a clinical sample are not available yet and empirical findings on the psychometric properties of the German version of the CRAFFT are very limited. Methods Data were collected in a German sample of 316 adolescent patients treated in emergency departments following alcohol intoxication. Problematic alcohol use was assessed using the German version of the CRAFFT. Data concerning frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption were collected. A confirmatory factor analysis using the 6 items of the CRAFFT modelled as categorical indicators of a single latent factor using a robust weighted least squares estimator was conducted. We also calculated a reliability coefficient and correlations between the CRAFFT and external criteria of alcohol use. Results The unidimensional model showed excellent global goodness-of-fit (χ 2  = 9.76, df = 8, χ 2 /df = 1.22, RMSEA = 0.027, CFI = 0.983, TLI = 0.976) and satisfying local parameters (standardized factor loadings between 0.37 and 0.69). We observed a poor reliability coefficient of 0.525. A positive association with alcohol use indicated construct validity of the German CRAFFT. Discussion Concerning its factorial and construct validity the German version of the CRAFFT is a promising instrument for measuring problematic alcohol use in clinical adolescent populations, but the reliability has definitely to be investigated again in further studies.