A potential benefit of using standardized assessments as part of the diagnosis of substance abuse disorders is that it provides the clinician the opportunity to compare results with a normative group.

Standardized Assessments

Tools or tests that are uniformly administered and scored across different individuals or groups to measure specific factors such as abilities, aptitudes, or characteristics.

Normative Group

A reference group against which individuals or other groups' behaviors, attitudes, or conditions are compared and assessed.

Diagnosis

The identification of the nature and cause of a health problem, usually through evaluation of patient history, examination, and review of diagnostic tests.