The predictive value of brief measures of externalizing behavior and internalizing problems in young people receiving substance use treatment : A secondary analysis

• Background: Identifying people at risk of poor outcomes following treatment for substance use disorders is important for developing tailored services. The aim of this study was to test whether a brief measure of internalizing and externalizing behavior could identify young adults at high risk of psychiatric care episodes and criminal offending up to four years after enrolment in treatment for substance use disorder. Methods: Clients aged 15–25 years from a randomized multicenter study were included (N = 457). At baseline, all completed the YouthMap12 screener, a measure of internalizing symptoms (IP6) and externalizing problems (EP6). We used accelerated failure time regression to assess time to psychiatric care and criminal offending, adjusting for baseline occurrence, gender, age, treatment group, and uptake area. Youden's J was used to assess optimal cut-points for risk of events. Results: The IP6 was associated with shorter time to psychiatric care following treatment enrolment (beta = −0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.94 to −0.48; adjusted beta = −0.45, 95% CI = −0.66 to −0.25). The EP6 was associated with shorter time to criminal offending, coefficient = −0.32, 95% CI = −0.44 to −0.19; adjusted coefficient = −0.18, 95% CI = −0.30 to −0.06). Optimal cut-points were two or more for the IP6 and three or more for the EP6. Conclusions: The IP6 and the EP6, two simple and easily administered instruments, can identify young adults who are at an increased risk of future criminal offending or in need of psychiatric care. The findings lend support to using the 12-item YouthMap, as it identifies relevant risks, is compatible with local service delivery needs, and is theoretically and empirically supported. © 2022 The Author(s)

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Beroendelära (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Substance Abuse (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Brief screening

Externalizing

Internalizing

Substance abuse treatment

Substance use

Young adults

Adolescent

Criminals

Humans

Substance-Related Disorders

Young Adult

adult

alcohol consumption

Article

clinical practice

cognitive behavioral therapy

diagnostic test accuracy study

drug dependence

drug use

education

employment

externalization (behavior)

externalizing disorder

female

follow up

human

internalizing disorder

Kaplan Meier method

major clinical study

male

median survival time

mental health care

motivational interviewing

multicenter study

multivariate analysis

outcome assessment

predictive value

probability

reliability

risk assessment

secondary analysis

sensitivity and specificity

sleep pattern

structured interview

training

treatment planning

univariate analysis

Youden index

clinical trial

controlled study

offender

randomized controlled trial

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)