Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
10:28
Assessment of Cocaine-induced Behavioral Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Mice
Published on: February 18, 2016
Assessing addiction: concepts and instruments.
Sharon Samet1, Rachel Waxman, Mark Hatzenbuehler
1New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032, USA. ss1456@columbia.edu
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
|February 23, 2008
Summary
Accurate assessment of substance use disorders is crucial for research and treatment. This article reviews key concepts and six structured instruments to aid researchers and clinicians in selecting appropriate tools for substance abuse and addiction evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Effective clinical research, treatment planning, and service referral for substance use disorders (SUDs) necessitate organized and efficient assessment methods.
- Formalized assessment provides a standardized framework for diagnosing and understanding SUDs, aligning with established diagnostic criteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the fundamental concepts of formalized substance abuse and addiction assessment.
- To present and describe six widely utilized structured assessment instruments for SUDs.
- To guide researchers and clinical programs in selecting the most suitable assessment tools for their specific needs and objectives.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of core principles of formalized SUD assessment based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR).
- Systematic review and description of six prominent structured assessment instruments commonly employed in the field of addiction research and clinical practice.
Main Results:
- The article outlines the foundational concepts underpinning structured SUD assessments.
- Key features, applications, and psychometric properties of six distinct assessment instruments are detailed, offering a comparative overview.
- Guidance is provided on matching instrument characteristics to research or clinical program requirements.
Conclusions:
- Selecting the appropriate assessment instrument is critical for the validity and reliability of SUD research and effective clinical decision-making.
- The reviewed instruments offer diverse approaches to evaluating substance use disorders, catering to various research and clinical contexts.
- This work serves as a valuable resource for optimizing the assessment process in addiction science and practice.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...
01:17Drug Dependence
Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
01:27Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) serves as the primary classification system for mental health disorders, providing standardized diagnostic criteria for clinicians and researchers. First published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1952, the DSM has undergone several revisions to reflect evolving psychiatric understanding. The fifth edition, DSM-5, released in 2013, introduced key updates that expanded diagnostic categories and modified diagnostic...
01:27CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about the way you...