Reliability and Validity of Persian Versions of Eysenck, Barratt, Dickman and Zuckerman Questionnaires in Assessing Risky and Impulsive Behaviors

This study aims to assess the validity and reliability of Persian versions of Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-II), Dickman Impulsivity Inventory (DII-2), Eysenck Impulsivity Questionnaire (EIQ-7) and Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS-5) by administering them to normal subjects and opiate abusers.

The Persian versions of BIS, DII, EIQ and SSS, were completed by a group of normal individuals (39 subjects) and opiate abusers (30 subjects). Reliability was assessed using internal consistency. Validity was checked using two

inter-scale correlation and known-groups comparison.

Cronbach's alpha coefficients in all questionnaires and in both groups ranged from 0.40 to 0.83. Except for “Boredom susceptibility” factor of SSS (0.22), the subgroups of questionnaires in BIS showed significant correlation (r=0.4). There was a significant correlation between impulsivity factors in other questionnaires and BIS results. BIS scores and impulsivity factors of other questionnaires in the substance abuser group was significantly (p<0.001) higher in comparison with normal subjects, but there were no differences regarding high risk and venturesome behavior indices. Also, substance abuse was an important factor in determining BIS scores as well as impulsivity factors in other questionnaires. Age, gender, and education have roles in determining this score as well.

The Persian version of Barratt’s four questionnaires is a valid and reliable measure of impulsivity. It seems that among Iranian drug abusers, impulsivity rather than risk taking tendencies is the main psychological feature of addiction.