Drug and alcohol practitioners' attitudes toward the use of standardized assessment.

Despite their importance to evidence-based assessment, standardized assessments remain underutilized by mental health practitioners in practice. The underutilization has been attributed to a lack of appreciation of the importance of standardized assessments, lack of knowledge of standardized assessments, and practical barriers to implementation. This study sought to gather the first descriptive data on alcohol and other drug (AOD) practitioners' attitudes toward, and knowledge and self-reported use of, standardized assessments.

From Impulse to Action? Cognitive Mechanisms of Impulsivity-Related Risk for Externalizing Behavior.

Trait impulsivity is an established risk factor for externalizing behavior problems in adolescence, but little is understood about the cognitive mechanisms involved. Negative automatic thoughts are associated with externalizing behaviors and impulsivity is associated with less cognitive reappraisal. This study sought to adapt the bioSocial Cognitive Theory (bSCT) of impulsivity and substance use (an externalizing behavior) for externalizing behavior in general.