ADVANCES IN THE ASSESSMENT OF ADDICTIONS

Abstract

The phenomenon of addiction to legal and illegal drugs represents a serious social and health problem at a global level. The correct assessment of the severity of the addiction and its consequences is crucial in order to be able to offer suitable therapeutic alternatives adapted to the needs of the patients. In recent decades, numerous diagnostic interviews have been developed to facilitate the detection of substance use disorders, as well as interviews focused on the severity of the addiction which determine the extent of the consequences of drug use. Additionally, generic questionnaires have been created that assess different aspects related to substance use across multiple substances, as well as specific questionnaires focused on particular areas or substances. The evolution of the assessment instruments for adults has been very significant, but tools aimed specifically at adolescents have only appeared relatively recently and their availability, particularly with regard to instruments validated in Spanish, is scarcer. Nevertheless, there is now a wide variety of psychometrically robust instruments available for professionals. The present review firstly analyses the magnitude of the problem of addiction worldwide and in Spain, its impact and social costs, and the background and advances in the assessment of addictions. Finally, we provide a discussion on the most pressing needs and the future lines of development in this field of psychology.

Keywords

• Addiction
• Assessment
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Adults
• Adolescents