Resources


A Single-Question Screening Test for Drug Use in Primary Care

Publication

This article validates the use of a single-question screening test for drug use in a primary care setting.

Published in Internal Medicine, the article outlines the steps used to validate the single-question drug screening tool, “How many times in the past year have you used an illegal drug or used a prescription medication for nonmedical reasons?” and the results of the validation process. It also includes several tables that reflect the demographic breakdown of the research subjects and statistical information related to drug use among the subjects.

ACP Depression Care Guide, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale GAD-2

Publication

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2) is a two-question screening tool for anxiety in patients.

The GAD-2 is designed to quickly assess individuals for generalized anxiety. Individuals respond to the two questions regarding their level of anxiety for the two weeks prior to completing the tool. Responses are based on a scale from 0 to 3, with 0 being “not at all” and 3 being “nearly every day.”

Co-Occurring Disorders Program: Screening and Assessment – Modified Mini Screen (MMS)

Publication

The Modified Mini Screen (MMS) is a brief self-report screening tool related to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders.

Developed by the Hazeldon Foundation as part of its Co-Occurring Disorders Program, the MMS consists of a series of 22 yes/no questions designed to assist clinicians screening individuals for mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress.

Co-Occurring Disorders Program: Screening and Assessment – PTSD Checklist

Publication

The PTSD Checklist is a 17-question screening tool for individuals who have experienced a traumatic life event.

The PTSD Checklist was developed by the Hazeldon Foundation as part of its Co-Occurring Disorders Program. Responses to the checklist are self-reported based on an individual’s experiences for the month prior to completing the screening tool. The questions touch on stress responses, physical reactions, and effect on the respondent’s life, and responses range from “not at all” to “extremely.”

Co-Occurring Disorders Program: Screening and Assessment – Simple Screening Instrument for Alcohol and Other Drugs (SSI-AOD)

Publication

The SSI-AOD is a 16-question self-reporting instrument to screen respondents for use of drugs and/or alcohol.

The SSI-AOD was developed by the Hazeldon Foundation as part of its Co-Occurring Disorders Program. The questions that make up the screening instrument are yes/no and touch on a respondent’s use of drugs and/or alcohol, the effect on the respondent’s relationships and life, any interaction with the criminal justice system, and any physical effects experienced as a result of the respondent’s use of drugs and/or alcohol.

Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST)

Publication

The Drug Abuse Screening Test is a self-reporting screening tool related to overuse or nonmedical use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

Developed in 1982, the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) is used to screen individuals for possible drug abuse. Questions touch on the respondent's use of drugs other than alcohol and the effect drug use has had on a respondent's health, family, and work life. The tool includes a scoring and interpretation section to assist clinicians with diagnosing patients.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7)

Publication

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) is a seven-question tool for assessing generalized anxiety disorder.

Originally published in Internal Medicine, the GAD-7 is designed to determine whether an individual may be suffering from generalized anxiety disorder. Responses to questions are self-reported based on problems experienced by a respondent during the prior two weeks and are rated on a scale of 0 to 3, with 0 being “not at all sure” and 3 being “nearly every day.”

NIDA Quick Screen V1.0

Publication

The Quick Screen V1.0 is a screening tool for use by clinicians to quickly assess a patient’s experience with alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs.

Developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Quick Screen V1.0 was designed to assist clinicians screening for drug abuse in adult patients. Based on a patient’s responses to the initial four questions related to the use of alcohol, tobacco products, and prescription and illegal drugs, the clinician can then, if necessary, move on to the remaining eight questions dealing with types of drugs used, frequency, desire to use, effect on the patient’s life, and attempts to stop using drugs. The tool includes a risk level score to help clinicians identify a patient’s level of risk for use of illicit or nonmedical prescription drug use.

NIDA Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription Medications, and Other Substance (TAPS) Tool

Publication

The TAPS tool is a two-part screening tool for tobacco use, alcohol use, prescription medication misuse, and illicit substance use.

Developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription Medications, and Other Substance (TAPS) Tool is designed to elicit responses regarding an individual’s use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. The first part, consisting of four questions, deals with the respondent’s use of tobacco, alcohol, and/or drugs on a daily, weekly, monthly, less-than-monthly, or never time basis for the 12-month period prior to completing the screening tool. The second part, consisting of nine questions, asks the individual to provide responses for the prior three months.

Primary Care Validation of a Single-Question Alcohol Screening Test

Publication

This brief article validates the use of a single-question alcohol screening test in a primary care setting.

Published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, the article outlines the steps used to validate the single-question alcohol screening test, “How many times in the past year have you had X or more drinks in a day?” and the outcome of the validation process. It includes several tables that reflect the demographic breakdown of the research subjects and statistical information related to unhealthy alcohol use among the subjects.

TCU Drug Screen 5 + Opioid Supplement

Publication

The TCU Drug Screen is an in-depth screening tool used to determine the extent of an individual’s drug use and dependence.

Developed by the Texas Christian University, Institute of Behavioral Research, the TCU Drug Screen questions relate to the respondent’s drug use, its effect on the respondent’s work/school life and relationships, and any deleterious physical effects on the respondent. The first 17 questions deal with all drug types, while the final 17 questions comprise the opioid supplement and deal only with the respondent’s use of licit and illicit opioid drugs.

The Patient Health Questionnaire–2 (PHQ-2)

Publication

The Patient Health Questionnaire–2 is a "first-step" approach to determine whether a person may be suffering from depression and anhedonia.

The Patient Health Questionnaire–2 (PHQ-2) is part of the Stable Resource Toolkit. It includes the first two questions from the PHQ-9 and is used to quickly determine whether the more in-depth PHQ-9 screening tool should be administered. The self-report questions are ranked on a scale from 0 to 3 and ask individuals to respond based on their experiences for the two weeks prior to completing the screening tool.

The Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9)

Publication

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is used for screening, diagnosing, monitoring, and measuring the severity of depression.

The PHQ-9 is a nine-question screening tool for depression that includes instructions for clinicians administering the screening tool to aid in making a diagnosis of depression. Respondents self-report, on a scale of 0 to 3, their experiences for the two weeks prior to completing the screening tool.