Screening for process addictions
There is no one screening method for all behavioral or process addicitons.
Each behavioral/process addiciton has its' own screening and assessment measures, which are at different stages of gathering psychometric support for their use. Each process addiciton discussed on this website offers some information (not exhaustive) for common screening instruments for that disorder.
It is important that behavioral addiction symptoms be included in symptom checklists for intake paperwork in general practice, and particularly chemical dependency, settings. Clients often do not present with these issues as primary, but they are willing to endorse symptoms if asked, which may indicate a need for further assessment.
Examples of symptoms included in Intake Paperwork:
Spending more time on any activity than intended
Lying about money spent or lost
Sex with strangers
Each behavioral/process addiciton has its' own screening and assessment measures, which are at different stages of gathering psychometric support for their use. Each process addiciton discussed on this website offers some information (not exhaustive) for common screening instruments for that disorder.
It is important that behavioral addiction symptoms be included in symptom checklists for intake paperwork in general practice, and particularly chemical dependency, settings. Clients often do not present with these issues as primary, but they are willing to endorse symptoms if asked, which may indicate a need for further assessment.
Examples of symptoms included in Intake Paperwork:
Spending more time on any activity than intended
Lying about money spent or lost
Sex with strangers
Waste-Time
WASTE Time (Hagedorn, 2005)
The committee is currently working on research to validate the use of WASTE-Time as a quick screen instrument for use in general counseling practices for any behavior that may be considered potentially addictive, which a client may endorse on intake paperwork.
Withdrawal
What happens to you when you are unable to engage in ___?
Adverse Consequences
What negative consequences resulted from ____?
Inability to Stop
Have you attempted to cut back or stop ____ without success?
Tolerance
Have you found it necessary to increase the amount or intensity of ____ to achieve the same effect?
Escape
Do you ____ to escape form negative moods?
Time Spent
Do you find yourself spending a lot of time preparing for, engaging in, and/or recovering from _____?
Time Wasted
Have you spent more time and/or resources on ___ than you intended?
The committee is currently working on research to validate the use of WASTE-Time as a quick screen instrument for use in general counseling practices for any behavior that may be considered potentially addictive, which a client may endorse on intake paperwork.
Withdrawal
What happens to you when you are unable to engage in ___?
Adverse Consequences
What negative consequences resulted from ____?
Inability to Stop
Have you attempted to cut back or stop ____ without success?
Tolerance
Have you found it necessary to increase the amount or intensity of ____ to achieve the same effect?
Escape
Do you ____ to escape form negative moods?
Time Spent
Do you find yourself spending a lot of time preparing for, engaging in, and/or recovering from _____?
Time Wasted
Have you spent more time and/or resources on ___ than you intended?