The reliability of the Swedish version of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI)

Abstract

A test-retest was carried out to test the stability of composite scores (CS) and the interviewers' and clients' assessments. The reliability study included 39 alcohol dependant Swedish-speaking detoxified patients at the Centre for Dependency Disorders in Stockholm. Of these, 75% were outpatients and 25% inpatients. Alcohol was the chief substance. The result shows the overall reliability of all the indices—composite scores, interviewers' ratings and clients' assessments—were satisfactory. For composite scores (CS), the intraclass correlations varied from 0.77 (physical health) to 0.99 (employment) for all the scales except the family and relations scale (0.66) and the legal scale (0.66). For interviewers' assessments, the intraclass correlations were between 0.74 and 0.96 for all the scales except family and relations (0.69). Clients' assessments of problems and needs were also satisfactory but for the intra class correlation for the 30 day measurement of physical health (0.24).

• Alcohol and drugs
• ASI
• reliability
• test-retest

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to staff of the Centre of Dependency Disorders in Stockholm for their efforts during the data collection. The study was supported by grants from the Swedish alcohol retail Monopoly.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.