Predicting adolescent drug abuse treatment outcome with the Personal Experience Inventory (PEI)

The purposes of this study were to examine the clinical utility of the Personal Experience Inventory (PEI) Psychosocial scales to predict adolescent drug abuse treatment outcome. The role of psychosocial risk factors in predicting treatment outcome also has theoretical interest given that such factors have been associated with the development of drug abuse. The sample consisted of 138 male and 105 female adolescents who were recruited at a hospital-based adolescent drug abuse treatment program. Clients were administered assessments at intake, discharge, and 6 and 12 months after discharge. Intake PEI Psychosocial scales were modestly predictive of outcome, and the magnitude of the predictions were higher for boys than girls. Three PEI Psychosocial domains of deviance, family dysfunction, and peer drug use were predictive of boys' outcome, and sibling and peer drug use were predictive of girls' outcome. The strength of these predictive relationships was similar to those found in other treatment outcome prediction research. There was limited support for the predictive validity of the PEI. These PEI Psychosocial scales that show predictive associations with outcome may be helpful in treatment planning.