Counselor Magazine, the Magazine for Addiction Professionals - Semi-Structured Screening Interview For Depression

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Continued Decline in Youth Substance Abuse

Current illicit drug use among teens is continuing to decline, according to a new report by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released today. The study also shows positive signs that teens are seeing the dangers of abusing prescription drugs and methamphetamine and are pushing back. Among youth ages 12-17, the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the Nation's largest substance use survey, shows that the significant decline in overall past month illicit drug use that began in 2002 continued through 2007, from 11.6 percent to 9.5 percent.

The survey, released at the start of the 19th Annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, shows that the reductions in youth drug use occurred for nearly every type of illicit drug including marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, LSD, and Ecstasy. The survey also shows dramatic declines in meth use, down by 67 percent (from 0.3% to 0.1%) and prescription drug abuse among teens, which declined overall by 18 percent, from 4 percent to 3.3 percent between 2002-2007.

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Semi-Structured Screening Interview For Depression

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Tuesday, 30 September 2003

The Semi-Structured Screening Interview for Depression (SSID) is designed to screen for depressive tendencies in clients and inform therapists about the client’s state of mind during the intake interview. The SSID can be used with both adults and adolescents; any age-specific items are clearly identified. The SSID should be administered verbally to clients, and users should duly note the client’s affect and behavior during the interview — these observations can often provide useful clinical insights.

Counselors can restate or reword questions, as needed, but it is highly recommended that the substance of each question be addressed at some point during the interview. Counselors may also find they need to probe clients more completely on their responses to obtain additional valuable clinical details. The SSID CANNOT be used for diagnostic purposes and is only useful as a brief screening tool for possible depression in clients. No clinical decisions should be made on the basis of the SSID or any other single instrument.

CURRENT AFFECT/BEHAVIOR

1. How would you describe your mood right now? Please elaborate.

2. Is your current mood different from a few weeks ago? [IF YES] How so? How about from many weeks ago? [IF YES] How so?

3. Have you noticed any change in your interests recently? Please describe.

4. How are things going with your family? How about with your friends? Please explain.

5. Has your family noticed any change in you? What have they reported to you lately Any concerns or issues? [IF YES] What are they?

6. Have your friends noticed any change in you? What have they reported to you lately? Any concerns or issues? [IF YES] What are they?

7. Is your activity level currently higher, lower, or about the same as is typical for you? Please explain any recent changes in your activity level.

8. [FOR ADOLESCENTS ONLY] How are things going in school? Any concerns or issues? [IF YES] What are they?

9. [FOR ADULTS & ADOLESCENTS] How are things going at work? Any concerns or issues? [IF YES] What are they?

SOMATIC ISSUES

10. How have you been sleeping? Any change in your sleep pattern? Describe these changes and tell me when they began.

11. How have you been eating? Any change in your eating habits? Describe these changes and tell me when they began.

12. Have you been unusually tired for no apparent reason? Please describe.

DEPRESSIVE/SUICIDAL IDEATION

13. Do you sometimes feel as if there is not much to look forward to?

14. [ONLY ASK IF CLIENT MENTIONS ANY SUICIDAL IDEATION AT ANY POINT DURING THE INTERVIEW] Do you think about harming yourself? [IF YES] Have you any plans for what you would do about this? [IF YES] Please describe.

15. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?

Sylvia Kay Fisher is a program specialist at the Center for Program Planning and Results of the U.S. Department of Labor. She was formerly a therapist and psychological evaluator. Ronnie Fisher is a retired psychology teacher and a former social worker and counselor.

This assessment tool is published in Counselor,The Magazine for Addiction Professionals, October 2003, v.4, n.5, p. 55.