Shorter PROMIS Questionnaire | Test your addictive tendencies

Further validation of a tool for simultaneous assessment of multiple addictive behaviours

Submitted for publication. Please do not quote without permission.

George Christo, PhD, PsychD. ^a

Susan Jones, BSc. ^b

Samantha Haylett, BSc. ^b

Geoffrey M. Stephenson, Ph.D., C.Psychol. ^{b *}

Robert M.H. Lefever, MA, MB, BChir. ^a

Robin Lefever, BSc. ^c

^a PROMIS Counselling Centre, 10 Kendrick Mews, London SW7 3HG, U.K.

^{* b} Department of Psychology, University of Kent at Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NP, U.K.

^c PROMIS Recovery Centre, The Old Court House, Pinners Hill, Nonington, Kent, CT15 3HG, U.K.

Correspondence and requests for offprints should be addressed to:

Professor GM Stephenson, Department of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, U.K. CT2 7NP

Tel: 01795 539340

Fax: 01795 530625

E-mail: G.M.Stephenson@ukc.ac.uk

RUNNING HEAD: Assessment of Multiple Addictive Behaviours

The Shorter PROMIS Questionnaire (SPQ)

Abstract

There is both a theoretical and clinical need to develop a questionnaire which assesses a range of addictive behaviours. The Shorter PROMIS Questionnaire (SPQ) is a 16 scale self-report instrument assessing the use of nicotine, recreational drugs, prescription drugs, gambling, sex, caffeine, food bingeing, food starving, exercise, shopping, work, relationships dominant and submissive, and compulsive helping dominant and submissive. Clinical cut-off scores using the 90th percentile were derived from a normative group of 508 individuals. These cut-offs correctly identified 78% to 100% of cases within clinical criterion groups of specific disorders. The clinical sample also completed other validated scales assessing gambling, eating, alcohol and drug use; correlations were typically .7 with relevant SPQ scales. The SPQ food, drug and alcohol scales were at least equivalent to validated comparison scales in the strength of their relationship to relevant clinical criterion groups. Internal consistency was high for all scales, and retest reliability was generally good. This clinically useful instrument provides a broad assessment of addictive problems, thereby benefiting both the treatment provider and the client.

substance abuse treatment; assessment; diagnosis; multiple addictive behaviours.