title: The validity of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) among Australian adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the validity of a brief personality screening measure for substance use in adolescents, the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS), among Australian adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 527 adolescents (mean age: 13.38years, SD=0.43) from seven Australian schools were assessed at two time points 24months apart. The concurrent and predictive validity of the SURPS was determined using a series of linear and logistic regressions, and was compared to the results in a United Kingdom (UK) sample. SURPS subscale scores for the Australian population were also reported and compared to those in the UK.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the SURPS subscale scores for Australian adolescents were similar to those for adolescents from the UK. Tests of concurrent and predictive validity in the Australian sample demonstrated that the all four personality profiles - Hopelessness (H), Anxiety Sensitivity (AS), Impulsivity (IMP), and Sensation Seeking (SS) - were related to measures of substance use and other behavioural and emotional characteristics. In addition, all the predicted specific prospective relationships between the personality profiles and particular substance use and other behavioural problems were confirmed except that H was not associated with illicit drug use. Overall, the results were similar between the Australian and UK samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SURPS is a valid and useful measure for identifying Australian adolescents at high-risk for substance use and other emotional and behavioural problems. Implications for prevention are discussed.
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: n.newton@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Nicola C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Castellanos-Ryan
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Katrina E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Lexine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stapinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Conrod
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Slade
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Maree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teesson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Adolescence; Personality; Prevention; SURPS; Substance use