A brief summary of how to administer the SASSI-A2.

by Todd

The SASSI-A2 was developed by Dr. Glenn A. Miller.  The original adult version of the SASSI was published in 1988 and quickly became one of the most widely used substance abuse screening instruments.  The SASSI-A2 was published in 1994 and became just as popular for screening clients twelve to eighteen years of age.  The SASSI-A2 boasts a 94% instrument accuracy.  However, it is not intended to prove a substance disorder diagnosis, but to be single component of a comprehensive screening process.  The self-report questionnaire takes approximately fifteen minutes to complete, and can be administered by any human service worker trained in proper administration procedures.

Coll, K.M., Juhnke, G.A., Thobro, P., Haas, R. (2003). A preliminary study using the substance    abuse subtle screening inventory: Adolescent form as an outcome measure with adolescent offenders. Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 24, 11-22.

Feldstein, S.W., Miller, W.R. (2007). Does subtle screening for substance abuse work? A review of the substance abuse subtle screening inventory (SASSI). Addiction, 102, 41-50.

Juhnke, G.A., Kelly, V.A. (2005). Addictions counseling with adolescents. In Kelly, Virginia A. (Ed); Juhnke, Gerald A. (Ed). (2005). Critical incidents in addictions counseling. (p 107-112). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

Lazowski, L.E., Miller, G.A. (2007)  SASSI: A reply to the critique of Feldstein & Miller.. Addiction, 102, 1001-1002.

Miller, F.G., Lazowski, L.E. (2005). Substance abuse subtle screening inventory for adolescents: Second version. In Grisso, Thomas (Ed); Vincent, Gina (Ed); Seagrave, Daniel (Ed).

Miller, W.R., Feldstein, S.W. (2007). SASSI: A response to Lazowski & Miller (2007). Addiction, 102, 1002-1004.

Sweet, R.I. Saules, Karen K. (2003). Validity of the substance abuse subtle screening inventory-  adolescent version (SASSI-A). Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 24, 331-340.

Using an ADHD rating scale

          As many as 3-9% of school aged children in the United States suffer from ADHD.  The use of an ADHD rating scale can help practitioners with the diagnosis for ADHD.  An ADHD rating scale can be filled out by any two different people who see the child on a regular basis in two different settings.  Most popular choices are parents and teachers.  There are a number of ADHD rating scales available; this is an example of one of them.

by Kristin Petersen

References:

Supporting the use of an ADHD rating scale are the following resources:

http://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=33564&search=adhd+rating+scale

http://www.chadd.org/Content/CHADD/Understanding/Evaluation/EvaluationandAssessmentTools/default.htm

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0901/p817.html

Yoga for Children's Mental Health

by Rhonda Callahan

Children who experience attention issues and/or anxiety issues can be benefitted by yoga. Studies have found that yoga can help increase focus and to reduce anxiety. Yoga can be used to enhance and complement other interventions in a therapy setting, a classroom setting or in the home. There are many great resources including videos and classes that children and their “helpers” can use to do yoga. Yoga can also be a very connecting experience for children and their therapist, parent or teacher. The video will give some tips that can help a therapist in doing yoga with a child and demonstrate some simple poses while using kid-friendly terminology and making the relaxation exercise a fun experience.

Please see these articles for more information:

Arnold, L. (1999). Treatment alternatives for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Journal of Attention Disorders. 3, 30-48, doi:10.1177/108705479900300103.

Harrison L.J., Manocha R., Rubia K. (2004). Yoga Meditation as a family treatment programme for children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 9 (4) ,479-497.