Identifying available addictive disorder screening tests validated in primary care: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Addiction medicine
• Primary care research
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Substance use disorders and non-substance addictive behaviors pose significant public health challenges.
• Efficient screening in primary care is crucial but hindered by a lack of validated approaches and practitioner guidance.
• This study addresses the need for effective screening tools in primary care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify validated screening tests for addictive disorders in primary care.
• To provide guidance for practitioners in selecting appropriate screening instruments.
• To highlight gaps in current screening capabilities for non-substance addictive behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, and The Cochrane Library.
• Search terms included 'screening,' 'addictive disorders,' and 'primary care.'
• Studies evaluating the validity of addictive disorder screening tests in primary care settings were included.

Main Results:

• Out of 8638 initial papers, 50 studies were included in the review.
• Seventeen questionnaires validated for primary care use were identified, primarily for substance use disorders.
• No validated screening tests were found for non-substance addictive behaviors; shorter tests showed weaker psychometric properties.

Conclusions:

• Seventeen validated screening tests for addictive disorders are available for primary care.
• The clinical utility and feasibility of shorter screening tests require further assessment.
• A need exists for a comprehensive screening test suitable for primary care constraints, covering both substance use and non-substance addictive behaviors.