Mental disorders are complex, multifaceted phenomena that are associated with profound heterogeneity and comorbidity. Despite the heterogeneity of mental disorders, most are generally considered unitary dimensions. We argue that certain measurement practices, especially using too few indicators per construct, preclude the detection of meaningful multidimensionality. We demonstrate the implications of crude measurement for detecting construct multidimensionality with alcohol use disorder (AUD). To do so, we used a large sample of college heavy drinkers (N = 909) for whom AUD symptomology was thoroughly assessed (87 items) and a blend of confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and hierarchical clustering. A unidimensional AUD model with one item per symptom criterion fit the data well, whereas a unidimensional model with all items fit the data poorly. Starting with an 11-item AUD model, model fit decreased and the variability in factor loadings increased as additional items were added to the model. Additionally, multidimensional models outperformed unidimensional ones in terms of variance explained in theoretically relevant external criteria. All told, we converged on a hierarchically organized model of AUD with three broad, transcriterial dimensions that reflected tolerance, withdrawal, and loss of control. In addition to introducing a hierarchical model of AUD, we propose that thorough assessment of psychological constructs paired with serious consideration of alternative, multidimensional structures can move past the deadlock of their unidimensional representations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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粗略的测量是否有助于观察到心理结构的单维性？DSM-5 酒精使用障碍的演示。

精神障碍是复杂的、多方面的现象，与深刻的异质性和合并症有关。尽管精神障碍具有异质性，但大多数通常被认为是单一维度。我们认为，某些测量实践，特别是每个构造使用太少的指标，会妨碍检测有意义的多维性。我们展示了粗略测量对检测酒精使用障碍 (AUD) 构造多维性的影响。为此，我们使用了大量大学重度饮酒者（N = 909）样本，对他们的 AUD 症状进行了全面评估（87 项），并结合了验证性因素分析、探索性因素分析和层次聚类。每个症状标准一个项目的一维 AUD 模型很好地拟合数据，而包含所有项目的一维模型对数据的拟合效果不佳。从 11 项 AUD 模型开始，随着向模型中添加其他项目，模型拟合度降低，因子载荷的可变性增加。此外，多维模型在理论上相关的外部标准中解释的方差方面优于单维模型。总而言之，我们融合了一个分层组织的 AUD 模型，该模型具有三个广泛的转录维度，反映了容忍、退缩和失控。除了引入 AUD 的层次模型外，我们还建议对心理结构进行彻底评估，并认真考虑替代的多维结构，这样可以摆脱其一维表征的僵局。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2021 APA，