Substance Use

Adult Self Report (ASR)

The ASR is a 126-item self-report questionnaire for adults (ages 18–59) assessing aspects of adaptive functioning and problems. The questionnaire provides scores for the following syndrome scales: anxious/depressed, withdrawn, somatic complaints, thought problems, attention problems, aggressive behavior, rule-breaking behavior, and intrusive behavior. The questionnaire provides scores for the following DSM-oriented scales: depressive problems, anxiety problems, somatic problems, avoidant personality problems, attention deficit/ hyperactivity problems (inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity subscales), and antisocial personality problems. Additionally, the questionnaire asks about use of the following substances: tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Items are rated on a 3-point scale: 0-Not True, 1-Somewhat or Sometimes True, 2-Very True or Often True.

Note: The ASR is given to adult participants ages 18-59 years old.

References: Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2003). Manual for the ASEBA adult forms & profiles. Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.

Additional Information: http://www.aseba.org/adults.html#scales

Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd Edition –Parent Rating Scale, 12-17 years old, (BASC – 2 (12–17))

The BASC – 2 (12-17) is a 150-item informant-report questionnaire assessing the adaptive and problem behaviors of adolescents (ages 12 – 17) in the community and home setting. It provides scores for the following scales: anger control, bullying, developmental social disorders, emotional self-control, executive functioning, negative emotionality, and resiliency. Informants report on the adolescent’s behavior in the last several months using a 4- point scale: 0-never, 1-sometimes, 2-often, 3-almost always.

Note: This self-assessment is given to guardians of adolescent participants ages 12-17 years old.

References: Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (1992). BASC: Behavior assessment system for children: Manual. American Guidance Service, Incorporated.

Additional Information: http://www.pearsonassessments.com/HAIWEB/Cultures/en-us/Productdetail.htm?Pid=PAa30000

The Comprehensive Addiction Severity Index for Adolescents (CASI-A)

The CASI-A is an interview-based structured screening instrument for adolescents (ages 12 -18) comprised of 10 modules including health, family, stressful life events, legal status, sexual behavior, alcohol and other drugs (AOD) use, mental health functioning, peer relationships, education, and use of free time. It is used to guide treatment planning and assessment of outcomes in a variety of settings.

Note: The Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) section only is given to adolescents and adults ages 13-85 years old. It is administered as a self-report questionnaire. The CASI – AOD assesses age of first use, age of use on regular basis, peak and typical pattern of use in past year, with whom the drug is used, route of administration, usage frequency in the past month, total years used for alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, stimulants, cocaine, narcotics, hallucinogens, inhalants, tranquilizers, miscellaneous, and other (participant specifies drug which presumably does not fit into above listed categories).

References: Meyers, K., McLellan, A. T., Jaeger, J. L., & Pettinati, H. M. (1995). The development of the comprehensive addiction severity index for adolescents (CASI-A). An interview for assessing multiple problems of adolescents. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 12(3), 181-93.

The Child Behavior Checklist – Parent Report Form (CBCL)

The CBCL is a 113-item informant-report questionnaire assessing behavioral competency and behavioral problems in children (ages 6 – 18) within the past six months. The following syndrome scales are assessed: anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed, somatic complains, social problems, thought problems, rule-breaking behavior, and aggressive behavior. The following DSM-oriented scales are assessed: affective problems, anxiety problems, somatic problems, attention deficit/hyperactivity problems, oppositional defiant problems, and conduct problems. Additionally, there are 20 social competency items used to obtain parents’ reports of the amount and quality of their child’s participation in sports, hobbies, games, activities, organizations, jobs and chores, friendships, how well the child gets along with others and plays and works by him/herself, and school functioning. Behaviors are rated on a 3-point scale: 0-Not true (as far as you know), 1-Somewhat or sometimes true, 2-Very true or often true.

Note: This self-assessment is given to guardians of children and adolescents ages 6-17 years old. The 20 social competency items are not included.

References: Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Integrative guide for the 1991 CBCL/4-18, YSR, and TRF profiles. Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Vermont.

Diagnostic Summary

Study staff, following completion and review of the SCID and ACDS or KSADS, completes the diagnostic summary.

Note: Item level data for the follow assessments are not released.

Adult ADHD Clinical Diagnostic Scale (ACDS) V 1.2:

This is a semi-structured interview that establishes both current adult symptomatology and the presence of any ADHD symptoms in childhood. The 18 items in the ACDS match the 18 symptom domains of ADHD noted in DSM-IV. As the SCID does not cover ADHD it is used in conjunction in order to help make or rule out this diagnosis.

Note: This semi-structured interview is administered to all adult participants ages 18-85 years old.

References: Kessler, R. C., Green, J. G., Adler, L. A., Barkley, R. A., Chatterji, S., Faraone, S. V., . . . Van Brunt, D. L. (2010). Structure and diagnosis of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Analysis of expanded symptom criteria from the adult ADHD clinical diagnostic scale. Archives of General Psychiatry, 67(11), 1168-78.

Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS):

The K-SADS is a semi-structured interview designed to assess current and past episodes of psychopathology in children and adolescents, according to DSM-IV criteria. Probes and objective criteria are provided to rate individual symptoms.

Note: This semi-structured interview is administered to all child participants ages 6-17 years old. The interview is first completed with the guardian of the child and is then completed with the child in order to determine past and current diagnoses.

References: Kaufman, J., et al. (1997). Schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children-resent and lifetime version (K-SADS-PL): Initial reliability and validity data. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 36(7), 980-988).

Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders – Non-Patient Edition (SCID-I/NP):

A diagnostic semi-structured interview designed to assess current and past episodes of psychopathology in adults, according to DSM-IV criteria. Probes and objective criteria are provided to rate individual symptoms.

Note: This semi-structured interview is administered to all adult participants ages 18-85 years old.

References: First, M., B., Spitzer, R. L., Gibbon, M., and Williams, J.B.W.: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders, Research Version, Non-patient edition (SCID-I/NP, 1/2010 revision). New York: Biometrics Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute, November 2002.

Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND)

This self-administered questionnaire consists of 6 questions, and examines nicotine consumption and intake habits in those that smoke cigarettes. It is used as a screening instrument that assesses nicotine dependence in adults who are currently smokers or have been in the past two years. Level of nicotine dependence is scored on a scale from 0-10, with 0-2: very low dependence and 8-10: very high dependence.

Note: This assessment is given to adult participants ages 18-85 years old.

References: Heatherton TF, Kozlowski LT, Frecker RC, Fagerstrom KO (1991). The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence: A revision of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire. British Journal of Addictions, 86:1119-27.

Modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire – Adolescents (FTQA)

This self-administered questionnaire consists of 7 questions, and is a modified version of the FTND that aims to assess nicotine tolerance in adolescents.

Note: This assessment is given to participants ages 13-17 years old.

References: Prokhorov, A.V., Pallonen, U.E., Fava, J.L., Ding, L., Niaura, R. (1996). Measuring nicotine dependence among high-risk adolescent smokers. Addict Behav, 21 (1), 117-127.

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System – High School – YRBS-HS (2011)

The YRBS-HS is a 79-item self-report questionnaire developed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), used to measure risky behavior in teens and young adults. The focus of the YRBS is to determine incidence and prevalence of specific behaviors in six areas that contribute to leading causes of morbidity and mortality in adolescents and adults. These six areas include: unintentional and intentional injuries; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and STD; dietary behaviors that result in disease; and physical inactivity. Behaviors are rated on a multiple-choice response format.

Note: This assessment is given to adolescent participants, ages 14-17.

References: Methodology of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. MMWR 2004;53(RR-12):1–13.

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System – Middle School – YRBS-MS (2011)

The YRBS-MS is a 45-item self-report questionnaire developed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), used to measure risky behavior in teens and young adults. The focus of the YRBS is to determine incidence and prevalence of specific behaviors in six areas that contribute to leading causes of morbidity and mortality in adolescents and adults. These six areas include: unintentional and intentional injuries; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and STD; dietary behaviors that result in disease; and physical inactivity. Behaviors are rated on a multiple-choice response format.

Note: This assessment is given to child and adolescent participants, ages 12-13.

References: Methodology of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. MMWR 2004;53(RR-12):1–13.

Youth Self-Report (YSR)

The YSR is a 112-item self-report designed for children and adolescents (ages 11-17), that assesses behavioral competency and behavioral problems and parallels the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Behaviors are rated on a 3-point scale: 0-Not true, 1-Somewhat or sometimes true and 2-Very true or often true, based on the preceding 6-months. The questionnaire provides scores for the following syndrome scales: anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed, somatic complains, social problems, thought problems, rule-breaking behavior, and aggressive behavior. The questionnaire provides scores for the following DSM-oriented scales: affective problems, anxiety problems, somatic problems, attention deficit/hyperactivity problems, oppositional defiant problems, and conduct problems. There are 20 social competency items that measure the child’s participation in hobbies, games, sports, jobs, chores, friendship, and activities.

Note: This self-assessment is given to all child participants, ages 11-17. The 20 social competency items are not included.

References: Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the Youth Self-Report and 1991 profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.