The European Adolescent Assessment Dialogue (EuroADAD): A Psychometric Evaluation

Abstract

Background: The Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis (ADAD) has been a gold standard for assessing drug use and associated problems in adolescents. Criticism of the instrument has been increasing. A new instrument, the European Adolescent Assessment Dialogue (EuroADAD) that builds on ADAD’s strengths but seeks to address its limitations is now available, but has not been subjected to comprehensive psychometric evaluation. Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the EuroADAD across various settings in adolescent populations who developed or were at a high risk of developing substance use and psychosocial adaptation problems. Participants and Settings: Three of the samples were collected in Hungary, including: institutionalized youths from juvenile residential facility (n = 295); adolescents from outpatient psychiatry facility (n = 278), and controls (n = 59). An additional sample was collected in the Netherlands, and consisted of adolescent boys from an independent residential institution for youth with severe behavioral problems (n = 51). Procedure: The EuroADAD was administered by trained interviewers. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and self-report questionnaires. Results:Reliability: the intraclass correlation was high for all domains of the EuroADAD; reliability analyses indicated good test-retest reliability, and internal consistency. Validity: difference among study samples was significant (p < 0.05) for the majority of the domains, with juvenile institution and psychiatric outpatient subjects exhibiting higher severity in most areas compared to controls. The Hungarian and Dutch samples were comparable, expect for the legal domain, due to the higher severity of behavioral problems in the Dutch sample. Several domains of the instrument, including ‘alcohol’, ‘drugs’ and ‘legal’ showed an association with trait aggression as measured by the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire and with Novelty Seeking on the Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory. Conclusion: Based on the pattern and significance of group differences, and correlations with other measures, the scale has good criterion, and convergent and discriminant construct validity. The EuroADAD is a reliable and valid tool for the assessment of alcohol and drug use, and related psychosocial problems in adolescents.

The search for relevant outcome measures for cost-utility analysis of systemic family interventions in adolescents with substance use disorder and delinquent behavior: a systematic literature review

“…There is also a European version of the instrument, the European Adolescent Assessment Dialogue (EuroADAD). Its aim is to “describe, communicate and compare young clients over borders of countries and institutions.” [ 33 ].…”

“…For the remaining two instruments (T-ASI and the Euro-ADAD) only limited information on psychometric properties could be obtained. It needs noting that the T-ASI and Euro-ADAD are related as they are both based on the ASI adult instrument [ 33 , 43 ]. Psychometric properties of this ‘predecessor’ have been judged satisfactory [ 24 , 49 – 52 ].…”

“…Two psychometric studies with small sample sizes were identified for the T-ASI [ 43 , 53 ] and one study [ 33 ] with a larger sample size was identified for the Euro-ADAD. Frequency of use was slightly favorable for the T-ASI compared to the Euro-ADAD as the instrument was used four times in the studies identified in this systematic review, whereas the Euro-ADAD was used in no more than one study.…”

Developing the Moti-4 intervention, assessing its feasibility and pilot testing its effectiveness

“…In four sessions, Moti-4 aims to stimulate youngsters to critically examine and adjust their own drug use. This is achieved by screening for substance use and problems in related areas such as problems at school or in the family, or psychiatric or physical problems [ 30 , 31 ], followed by knowledge transfer, creating awareness, motivational interviewing, and strengthening the youngster’s resilience. Should the prevention worker experience a sense of alarm during the screening, and he ascertains that the adolescent has a substance abuse disorder, he or she will be referred to treatment as soon as possible [ 30 ].…”

A dohányzás és az alkoholfogyasztás együttes előfordulásának összefüggései a figyelemhiányos hiperaktivitás-zavar tüneteivel kilencedik osztályos tanulók körében

“…Az EuroADAD félig strukturált interjú segítségével a serdülőkori problémák többdimenziós profi lja állítható fel [31]. Jelen vizsgálatunk során az alkoholivásra és a dohányzásra vonatkozó tételeket (a Szerhasználati problémák fejezetből), valamint az elmúlt évi iskolai teljesít-ményre vonatkozó változót (D6 változó az Iskolai problémák fejezetből) használtuk fel.…”