Consistency of self-administered and interview-based Addiction Severity Index composite scores

Aims. This study assesses the viability of a self-administered version of t he Addiction Severity Index for monitoring substance abuse patients' functi oning. Design and measurements. Patients completed the ASI interview and a self-administered questionnaire containing ASI composite items an average o f 4 days apart. Composite scores from both formats were compared using corr elations and mean differences. Participants and setting. Participants were 316 veterans entering substance abuse treatment in a US Department of Veter ans Affairs medical center. Findings. Composite scores for alcohol, drug, p sychiatric, family, legal and employment problems correlated 0.59-0.87 acro ss formats. Patients endorsed more drug use and psychiatric Symptoms by que stionnaire than bg, interview. Medical composite scores correlated only 0.4 7 across formats. Conclusions. This study and previous research suggest tha t a self-administered questionnaire can be a feasible alternative to ASI in terviews for monitoring substance abuse patients' treatment outcomes.