Psychometrics of the self-report Concise Associated Symptoms Tracking Scale (CAST-SR): Results from the STRIDE (CTN-0037) study.

The self-report Concise Associated Symptoms Tracking Scale (CAST-SR) has been validated as a reliable instrument to track symptoms across the domains of irritability, mania, anxiety, panic, and insomnia in depressed outpatients after beginning antidepressant medication. However, its factor structure, validity, and reliability have not yet been tested in other treatment-seeking populations.

This study evaluated the psychometrics of the CAST-SR in a sample of participants in the multisite Stimulant Reduction Intervention Using Dosed Exercise (CTN-0037) trial: individuals with stimulant use disorder receiving aerobic exercise or health education interventions. The CAST-SR loaded only in individuals with primary stimulant use disorders who were prescribed antidepressant medications, not in all individuals with primary stimulant use disorders.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the CAST-SR in a novel population of only individuals with stimulant use disorders receiving both exercise/health education interventions and antidepressant medication. Clinicians treating antidepressant-receiving individuals with comorbid stimulant use disorders may use the CAST-SR to examine changes in symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and panic throughout treatment, thereby optimizing treatment outcomes.

Related protocols: CTN-0037