title: Sensitivity of MCMI-III Scales T (drugs) and B (alcohol) in detecting substance abuse.
abstract: The sensitivity and specificity of MCMI-III Scales T (drug dependence) and B (alcohol dependence) were evaluated with patients (N = 164) in an inpatient substance user treatment program. The sensitivity levels of these two scales improved significantly compared to previous research using the MCMI I and MCMI II Scales T and B, which had not achieved sensitivity values above .50. However, specificity for detecting alcoholism among drug misusers was lower compared to MCMI I and II studies. Results suggest improved diagnostic sensitivity with the MCMI-III in diagnosing substance misuse, but lowered efficiency in ruling out the disorder.
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Drug Abuse Program, West Side VAMC, Chicago, IL 60612-3740, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Craig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation