This study examined the effectiveness of several screening instruments in d
etecting substance use disorders among prison inmates. A sample of 400 male
inmates were administered eight different substance abuse screening instru
ments and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV), Version 2
.0, Substance Abuse Disorders module. The latter was used as a diagnostic c
riterion measure to determine the presence of substance use disorders. Base
d on positive predictive value, sensitivity, and overall accuracy, the Texa
s Christian University Drug Screen, the Simple Screening Instrument, and a
combined instrument-Alcohol Dependence Scale/Addiction Severity Index-Drug
Use section were found to be the most effective in identifying substance ab
use and dependence disorders. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights res
erved.