Clinically useful, research validated assessment of persons with alcohol problems.
Advances in treatment approaches available for persons with alcohol problems, particularly the advent of cognitive behavioral and motivational approaches, have made systematic assessment of these problems more important than ever for clinicians. There is a plethora of assessment instruments available, and it is a difficult task for clinicians to conceptualize, select and use these instruments in a coherent fashion. Particularly important in this task is the identification of research validated instruments that provide both clinically useful and psychometrically sound data. This paper presents a model of alcohol assessment and reviews selected research validated instruments that can be assembled into an assessment battery that provides useful data to guide treatment of alcohol problems while also addressing practical concerns encountered by clinicians in practice.
Rotgers
Frederick
F
Department of Psychology, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 4190 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131-1693, USA. fredro@pcom.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index