Sensitivity of MCMI-III Scales T (drugs) and B (alcohol) in detecting substance abuse.

The sensitivity and specificity of MCMI-III Scales T (drug dependence) and B (alcohol dependence) were evaluated with patients (N = 164) in an inpatient substance user treatment program. The sensitivity levels of these two scales improved significantly compared to previous research using the MCMI I and MCMI II Scales T and B, which had not achieved sensitivity values above .50. However, specificity for detecting alcoholism among drug misusers was lower compared to MCMI I and II studies. Results suggest improved diagnostic sensitivity with the MCMI-III in diagnosing substance misuse, but lowered efficiency in ruling out the disorder.