Predictive validity of the EuropASI: clinical diagnosis or composite scoring?

This study assessed the correlation between the areas of the interviewer severity rating (ISR) and the areas of the composite scores (CSs) of the European version of the Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI). It evaluated the predictive validity of both types of scoring with regard to completion of treatment. For this purpose, 252 patients were interviewed using the EuropASI; 38.9% of patients discontinued treatment. Results indicated a high correlation between various areas of the ISR and the CS, except the legal and family-others scales. Regarding predictive results, patients with a score greater than 3 in the ISR family area were more likely to quit the program compared with patients with a score lower than 3. Patients with a CS score that was greater than 0.34 in the alcohol use area were more likely to drop out of treatment. When both ISR and CS scores were included in the prediction model, the ISR family area was a better predictor.