The CAAPE is a comprehensive diagnostic assessment interview providing documentation for substance-specific abuse or dependence diagnoses based on DSM-IV criteria. It covers some of the more prevalent mental health conditions likely to impact recovery from substance abuse or dependence and collects key demographic information associated with prognosis.

APPLICATIONS: The CAAPE is an ideal tool for performing a substance abuse and mental health diagnostic work-up as part of any routine clinical intake when both addictions and mental health disorders need to be considered. Both demographic and clinical content covered by the CAAPE have been shown to be related to recovery after addictions treatment. The determination of relapse potential is one of the areas to be assessed in applying ASAM criteria to treatment planning. Also, the CAAPE can aid in motivational enhancement. Individuals who are presented with the detailed behaviors and symptoms of their conditions frequently are more likely to accept referral and become engaged in their treatment plans. For the assessment of co-occurring disorders in adolescents, the PADDI (Practical Adolescent Dual Diagnostic Interview) should be used.

ADMINISTRATION: The modular organization of the CAAPE interview provides substantial flexibility in the collection of diagnostically relevant data. The CAAPE can be administered as a comprehensive interview in a single session. However, if time is limited or the first concern is to determine either a particular substance use or other mental health diagnosis, the particular section of interest may be administered alone and the remaining sections completed later. The structure of the CAAPE facilitates conducting the interview in segments without losing the context of previous responses. This can be useful in working with clients who are distractible or demonstrate a short attention span.

TIME REQUIREMENTS: Most respondents complete the interview in 35 to 50 minutes, and scoring can be done within five minutes. Individuals with extensive drug and mental health histories may require a full hour of interview time. A triage application focusing only on current or key symptoms will typically require 20 to 30 minutes.

SCORING AND INTERPRETATION: The CAAPE can be scored and interpreted in a matter of minutes. The interview booklet is designed to conform to the DSM-IV criteria, and the order of the questions makes the interview its own scoring template. The design of the CAAPE facilitates scoring, as the interview is conducted for clinicians familiar with the DSM-IV and the CAAPE. A Summary Data form provided with each interview allows for a succinct summary of findings that can be inserted in charts or used to organize a report.

COPYRIGHT: The CAAPE is copyrighted by Norman G. Hoffmann and may not be adapted or photocopied. To do so is a violation of copyright law and constitutes unethical conduct.

© 2012 Evince Clinical Assessments