SCORING THE ASI
It is a common misconception that the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) can be scored. Unfortunately, the ASI is an assessment instrument and unlike a test, cannot label a client "pass" or "fail." The ASI interview, however, does yield two different measures: the Interviewer Severity Ratings and the Composite Scores.
The Interviewer Severity Ratings are qualitative, non-essential items that provide a summary for people who wish a quick general profile of a client's problem status in each section of the ASI. They are only provided for clinical convenience and never intended for research use. The severity estimates were found to be reliable and valid across a range of patient and interviewer types and they remain a useful clinical summary that clinicians continue to use regularly- but only for initial treatment planning and referral. It should also be noted that severity ratings are not included in the ASI Lite version.
Composite Scores are mathematically
sound measures of change in problem status. The composite scores were developed
to provide reliable and valid measures of patient status in each area of the
ASI; measures can be compared at the beginning of treatment and a subsequent
evaluation points to note improvement or the lack thereof.
For more information, please contact the
ASI
helpdesk or call toll-free