The Short Inventory of Problems, Article Critique Example

The Short Inventory of Problems—Revised (SIP-R): Psychometric Properties Within a Large, Diverse Sample of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Seekers

The world of psychology is open to various topics, in which examine substance abuse, and how to treat them. In critiquing published studies and research, this paper will examine, Brian Kiluk, Jessica Dreifuss, Jon Morgenstern, Kathleen Carroll, and Roger Weiss (2013), “The Short Inventory of Problems—Revised (SIP-R): Psychometric Properties Within a Large, Diverse Sample of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Seekers.” In analyzing this article, it views the assessment of substance use adverse consequences that serves a function that is fundament in both research and clinical environments. However, there is no measure that is universally agreed upon of the relevant consequences to numerous types of disorders of substance use. For this research, the group used the Short Inventory of Problems (SIP) measurement that has been evaluated, and adapted into numerous populations that are specific. In order to assess this measurement, there is a need to provide valid and reliable evidence using samples of people with disorders for substance abuse.

Looking at the specific research from Kiluk et al. in which assesses the consequences that are negative of the substance abuse disorders, in which evaluates the process in both the treatment and research for numerous reasons. Looking first at the dependence of substance abuse diagnostic criteria, using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder 4^th Edition. Which looks at the results from drug and alcohol use on the impairment in psychosocial function, in which requires assessing substance use consequences. By looking at the interventions of substance use disorders which attempt to raise awareness of the problem, as recognize the consequences that is fundamental in increasing change behavior motivation. Finally, the researchers assess the problems of substance related that is viewed increasingly in clinical trials as an essential measure outcome. (Kiluk et al 2013) In using Short Inventory of Problems (SIP), they used a short 15-item version that took from both the Drinker Inventory of Consequences and the Inventory of Drug Use Consequences. Per Kiluk et al, the primary purpose of this study “is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the revised version the SIP (SIP-R) in a large, combined sample of mixed alcohol and drug use disorder treatment seekers.” (Kiluk et al 2013)

Using a multidimensional study, they used two types of trials in which used stable traits of participants that sought treatment for substance use problems. There is an inherent need for this published test because it important in testing the effectiveness of different types of treatment programs for substance abuse. More importantly using the SIP measurement in a larger sample population helps in testing the overall validity and reliability of the generalizability to large communication outpatient settings. Their method involved using information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network (CTN), in which two independent multisite randomized clinical trials that were conducted within SUD treatment settings of outpatients. One of the evaluated trials was the MI or assessing the effectiveness of motivational interviewing integration. (Carrol et al, 2006) This trial also evaluated the strategies and techniques into an implemented session of intake/evaluation in the five participated community based programs for treatments. This trial was used in enhancing treatment for reducing, retention, and engagement for substance use. The second evaluated trial was MET motivational enhancement therapy effectiveness. (Miller et al, 1996) This trial was delivered to five SUD treatment outpatient programs, in which delivered four individual implemented therapy sessions.

In looking at the participants of both the MI and MET studies, the sample population included participants from across the United States, they used 10 participating sties that included the participants that were seeking problems for substance use treatment. For both trials, the participants were assessed on their substance use and basic demographic characteristics. In total there were 886 participants used from both studies that completed the SIP-R assessment. The norm-referenced assessment sought to estimate the tested participant’s position in the trials, in regards to the measured, such as a self-report inventory, self-reported breathalyzer, and to list consequences that have occurred within the duration of the trial. The responses from each item was summed to produce a total score and scores from the five subscales used in the revised SIP assessment. (Kiluk et al 2013). This was an experimental study that utilized the assessment measurement of the revised SIP, SIP-R. The strategies for research included using experimental studies taken from smaller sample population trials from past studies, as well as information taken from multiple psychometric evaluations of the SIP. The data was collected from the self-reports, the SIP-R results, and the results obtained from the two trials, that resulted in the 17-itrem SIP-R. Using the combined datasets of the MET and MI studies, analysis was conducted in which tested the Cronbach’s alpha and the CFA using a one-factor and five-factor model. By examining the interitem correlations, item-to-total scale correlations, and item-to-subscale correlations to analyze the items. In testing the validity, it was concurrently evaluated by the baseline correlations of the scores from the SIP-R, in testing the substance use adverse consequences. In testing the validity and reliability, both studies resulted in great internal reliability, using the Cronbach’s alpha at .95 and .96. In which the models were better fit for the 15-item SIP-R. This was due to higher measurements in testing these two components. The problem however, was that the SIP-R did not demonstrate predictive frequency substance use of the participants, during or after treatment.

Although it did not demonstrate a model that had strong level of fit, which was a weakness in the assessment of the study. The strengths lie in the measurements of the SIP-R demonstrated the overall frequency use independent consequences of substance use. Additionally supporting the convergent validity and internal reliability of using this assessment in measuring the use of alcohol and drugs. The importance is that this is the first study to demonstrate the ability of the SIP to predict retention treatment, which is useful in supporting the use of SIP-R as a tool for baseline assessment for populations seeking treatment. This study was essential in looking at a tool that not only worked with substance abuse patients, but also provided a guided assessment that forced them to self-report, or evaluate their shortcomings, or victories in abstaining from the use of alcohol and drugs. This article made me re-evaluate the types of treatments that are needed in helping to find treatment, that decrease retention, as well as curve relapses in programs that could be beneficial to sustaining a person’s life, by cutting out the bad habits. Assessments are needed to evaluate what types of treatments are better suited for individuals that might require more resources, or increased treatment for treating their substance use, which is overall a primary factor that helps individuals.

References

Carroll, K. M., Ball, S. A., Nich, C., Martino, S., Frankforter, T. L., Farentinos, C, and Woody, G. E. (2006). Motivational interviewing to improve treatment engagement and outcome in individuals seeking treatment for substance abuse: A multisite effectiveness study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 81(3), 301-312.

Kiluk, Brian D, Jessica Dreifuss, Roger Weiss, Jon Morgenstern, and Kathleen Carroll. (2013). The Short Inventory of Problems—Revised (SIP-R): Psychometric Properties Within a Large, Diverse Sample of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Seekers. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Vol. 27, No. 1, pp.307-314.

Miller, W. R., and Tonigan, J. S. (1996). Assessing drinkers’ motivation for change: the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES). Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 10(2), 81.