The primary goal of this discussion is to describe the evaluation of substance use disorder. Firstly, the nature and severity of the substance use have to be established, as these aspects can be observed from the screening tests and the patient’s behavior. One of the tests can be AUDIT, ASI, Alcohol Dependence Scale (if alcohol), and others. For instance, seeking alcohol can be observed in the patient’s behavior.
As for the problems stemming from use, various medical conditions might reflect the condition of the patient. In this instance, they might include such symptoms as the tremor in the hands and deviations in behavior. Nonetheless, the inaccurate diagnosis might take place due to the overlapping symptoms of the patient. Speaking of motivation for change, these aspects are used to measure a patient’s readiness to adapt to the treatment and accept changes. In this instance, the most applicable tests and evaluations are the Readiness for Change Questionnaire and SOCRATES, as they help access the patient’s readiness.
In turn, the most acceptable scales for the client’s strengths and resources have to be introduced. Examples of the tests will include IPI and Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale as they will propose the relevant results about the current condition of the patient. As for the functional analysis, the most appropriate scales include the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire, Situational Temptation Scales, and Desired Effects of Drinking. In the end, the overall process of the diagnosis will consist of the following steps: determining the nature of the addiction and severity, diagnosis of the symptoms, the readiness of the patient to adapt to the changes, evaluation of the patient’s strengths, and resources, and functional analysis. Nonetheless, the application of tests might vary depending on the diagnosis.