title: Diagnostic accuracy and factor structure of the AAS and APS scales of the MMPI-2.
abstract: Receiver operating characteristics analysis and sensitivity analysis were used to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the Addiction Acknowledgement Scale (AAS; Weed, Butcher, McKenna, & Ben-Porath, 1992) and Addiction Potential Scale (APS; Weed et al., 1992) of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) to that of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale-Revised (Butcher et al, 1989), the CAGE (Mayfield, McLeod, & Hall, 1974), and Svanum's scale (Svanum & McGrew, 1995) in a sample of 338 university students. The AAS was the most accurate of these 5 scales at identifying current alcohol dependence (as measured by a structured diagnostic interview) and appears to offer considerable promise as an alcohol screening instrument. In contrast, the APS performed the most poorly of the 5 scales being evaluated, yielding results that would be of minimal clinical utility. Factor analysis yielded a 2-factor solution for the AAS (Acknowledgement of Alcohol/Drug Problems; Positive Alcohol Expectancies) and a 4-factor solution for the APS (Satisfaction with Self; Cynicism/Pessimism; Impulsivity; Risk-Taking).
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Science, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA. rclements@bsu.edu
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: JoAnn M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Heintz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors