STRUCTURED INTERVIEW VERSUS SELF-REPORT TEST VANTAGES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PERSONALITY PATHOLOGY IN COCAINE DEPENDENCE

The study compared structured interview (SCID-II) and self-report test (MCMI-II) vantages for the detection and characterization of personal ity pathology among 144 urban, poor, cocaine-addicted individuals seek ing outpatient treatment. Diagnostic agreement was inadequate for most disorders, and the instruments at best shared only modest common vari ance. Positive predictive power was poor for all MCMI-II scales, thoug h negative predictive power was good to excellent. This lends support for the use of the MCMI-II as a screening measure to rule out Axis II disorders; however, confirmation of positive diagnoses will require fo llow-up interview assessment. Future development of self-report person ality inventories for substance abusers should focus on controlling fo r the acute dysphoric effects of drug use and related dysfunction, exp anding attention to Cluster B content domains, and incorporating more objective criteria for assessing paranoia and ''odd/eccentric'' traits .