Initial validation of a computer-administered Addiction Severity Index: the ASI-MV.

The Addiction Severity Index--Multimedia Version (ASI-MV) is a CD-ROM-based simulation of the interviewer-administered Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Clients in treatment (N = 202) self-administered the ASI-MV to examine the test-retest reliability, criterion validity, and convergent-discriminant validity of the ASI-MV. Excellent test-retest reliability was observed for composite scores and severity ratings. Criterion validity, tested against the interviewer-administered ASI, was good for the composite scores. For severity ratings, variable agreement was observed between the ASI-MV and each interviewer, suggesting poor interrater reliability among interviewers. This conclusion was bolstered by a finding of superior convergent-discriminant validity for both composite scores and severity ratings compared to the standard ASI. The ASI-MV is a viable alternative to the expensive and potentially unreliable interviewer-administered version.