Which instrument is used to screen people who frequently distort or misrepresent the truth?

• A. CAGE
• B. SASSI The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory
• C. MMPI
• D. AUDIT

Answer: (B)

When screening for people who frequently distort or misrepresent the truth, you want an instrument that can expose underreporting as well as assess substance use. The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory is designed for this purpose. It includes validity indicators and thoughtfully worded items that help reveal when someone is minimizing or denying their use, even if they try to present themselves as behaving or feeling more normally. That focus on detecting deceptive or defensive responding makes it particularly effective for spotting truth distortion.

Other screens emphasize different things. CAGE is a quick four-question tool about whether drinking is a problem, but it doesn’t specifically target deception or underreporting. AUDIT looks at patterns and consequences of alcohol use, not at the honesty of reporting. The MMPI is a broad personality assessment and does include validity scales, but it’s not typically used as a focused screening instrument for substance use behavior in day-to-day practice due to its length and broad scope.