Week 4: Administration Considerations for Assessment Tools

Week 4: Administration Considerations for Assessment Tools

Consider the following scenario:

Terrence is considering next steps for a client, Angela, who has come for therapy at the family counseling center where he works. When Angela scheduled her appointment on the telephone, she had described her concerns with marital difficulties, insomnia, and depression. During her first session, however, Terrence noticed that Angela had a very nervous demeanor, picked at her skin constantly, and had a rasping cough. When Terrence asked Angela about her employment, she admitted that she had lost her job and that her husband was angry about it. She said she was afraid her husband was on the brink of becoming abusive.

Terrence is not sure what to do first. He suspects Angela might have a substance addiction, but clearly she has several interlocking problems, and many are urgent. Should Terrence administer a screening for addiction or a more general clinical assessment? If he does decide to administer an addictions assessment, which of the many that are available should he choose and why?

This week, you differentiate between the use of addictions assessment tools and clinical assessment tools and review several assessment tools in order to evaluate one of them.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Differentiate between the use of addictions assessment tools and clinical assessment tools

· Critique an addictions assessment tool

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Gupta, R., Nower, L., Derevensky, J. L., Blaszczynski, A., Faregh, N., & Temcheff, C. (2013). Problem gambling in adolescents: An examination of the pathways model. Journal of Gambling Studies, 29(3), 575–588.

Problem Gambling in Adolescents: An Examination of the Pathways Model by Gupta, R.; Nower, L.; Derevensky, J.; Blaszczynski, A.; Faregh, N.; Temcheff, C., in Journal of Gambling Studies, Vol. 29/Issue 1. Copyright 2013 by Human Sciences Press – Journals. Reprinted by permission of Human Sciences Press – Journals via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Focus on the three Pathways (pp. 577–578).

Larimer, M. E., Cronce, J. M., Lee, C. M., & Kilmer, J. R. (2004/2005). Brief intervention in college settings. Alcohol Research & Health, 28(2), 94–104.

Focus on the section titled “Advantages and Efficacy of Screening and Brief Interventions in College Populations,” paying particular attention to the direct effect of assessment on substance use.

Muñoz, Y., Chebat, J-C., & Borges, A. (2013). Graphic gambling warnings: How they affect emotions, cognitive responses and attitude change. Journal of Gambling Studies, 29(3), 507–524.

Graphic Gambling Warnings: How they Affect Emotions, Cognitive Responses and Attitude Change by Muñoz, Y.; Chebat, J.; Borges, A., in Journal of Gambling Studies, Vol. 29/Issue 1. Copyright 2013 by Human Sciences Press – Journals. Reprinted by permission of Human Sciences Press – Journals via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Focus on the section titled “Use of Graphic Images” (p. 510).

Nagy, T. F. (2011). Ethics in psychological assessment. In Essential ethics for psychologists: A primer for understanding and mastering core issues (pp. 171– 183). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. 

Focus on the reasons behind selection of different types of assessments and why multiple assessments might be needed. This article also includes excellent information on ethics of assessment.

Samet, S., Waxman, R., Hatzenbuehler, M., & Hasin, D. S. (2007). Assessing addiction: Concepts and instruments. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 4(1), 19–31. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2797097/pdf/ascp-04-1-19.pdf

Focus on the types of assessments used for addictions treatment and the characteristics of each that might elicit data relevant to addictions rather than some other type of psychiatric disorder. Table 1 on p. 25 provides a snapshot of many common addictions assessments.

Suissa, A. (2011). Vulnerability and gambling addiction: Psychosocial benchmarks and avenues for intervention. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 9(1), 12–23.

Focus on the section titled “A Hidden Area of Vulnerability: Internet Gambling.” It is suggested that the entire article be read, as it is important. In particular, it provides good information on gambling addiction.

Optional Resources

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2005). Module 5: Diagnosis and assessment of alcohol use disorders. Retrieved from http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Social/Module5Diagnosis&Assessment/Module5.html

THIS IS DUE WEDNESDAY BY 8PM 6/23/21!!!

Discussion: Addictions Screening and Assessment Tools Versus Clinical Assessments

A client is typically referred to an addiction professional with myriad problems because addictions either directly or indirectly cause the problems, or the addiction is a byproduct of the problem. If clinical assessments provide an overview of a client’s background and situation, is a specific addictions assessment necessary? If an addictions assessment shows a client with depression and anxiety, is a clinical assessment necessary?

For this Discussion, you consider differences between use of addictions assessment tools and clinical assessment tools and the rationale behind each approach.

To prepare:

Review the Learning Resources, particularly the following articles:

· “Brief Intervention in College Settings”

· “Assessing Addiction: Concepts and Instruments”

By Day 4

Post your response to the following:

How might the use of addictions assessment tools differ from the use of clinical assessment tools? Include in your response references to unique administration and client considerations.

Be specific and use the week’s Learning Resources in your response.

By Day 6

Grading Criteria

THIS IS DUE SATURDAY BY 1PM 6/26/21

Assignment: Evaluating an Addictions Assessment Tool

Addictions professionals can choose from many types of tools. Addictions assessments are divided into screening and assessment tools. Addictions screening tools are meant to determine if an addiction might be a possibility; they are not intended to diagnose. Addictions professionals use them to gain a basic idea of an individual’s orientation to an addiction. Addictions assessment tools are typically geared toward detecting dependence on or addiction to a specific, identified substance or behavior. These tools are broader in scope and often take special training and considerable time to administer.

The difficulty often is not in finding a tool to use with a client, but rather in choosing the most effective and appropriate tool from a wide variety. Though choices of screening and assessment tools is often made by the organization in which an addictions professional works, many considerations including cost, time to administer, training, and accuracy enter into the selection of the right test for each individual with a potential substance or process addiction. Thus, it is important that addictions professionals be familiar with the tools available to them and understands the effectiveness of these tools in assessing what they are intended to assess.

In this Assignment, you select one assessment tool from several well-known addictions assessment tools and research and provide an evaluation of its purpose, administration, and efficacy.

To prepare:

Review the Learning Resources, including the following:

· “Brief Intervention in College Settings”

· “Ethics in Psychological Assessment”

· “Assessing Addiction: Concepts and Instruments”

Assignment Directions:

Select one of the following assessment tools, found in this week’s Learning Resources:

· Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3

· The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test

· The Addiction Severity Index

Research and select two articles of your choice on your chosen addictions assessment tool.

By Day 7

Submit a 2- to 4-page critique of the addictions assessment tool you chose. Include the following:

· Brief purpose of the assessment

· Reliability of the assessment

· Validity of the assessment

· Type of normative data the assessment assesses

· Time of administration

· Cost

· Reading level, if known

· Any special administration considerations (e.g., need for a computer or special training)

· Benefits and limitations

· Overall utility of the test in an addictions assessment

References: McLellan, A. T., Luborsky, L., O’Brien, C. P., & Woody, G. E. (1980). An improved diagnostic instrument for substance abuse patients, The Addiction Severity Index. Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, 168, 26–33. Miller, G. A., Roberts, J., Brooks, M. K., & Lazowski, L. E. (1997). SASSI-3 user’s guide. Bloomington, IN: Baugh Enterprises. Seltzer, M. L. (1971). The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test: The quest for a new diagnostic instrument. American Journal of Psychiatry, 127, 1653–1658.