Opioid Risk Tool (ORT)

ORT: Opioid Risk Tool

Reprinted With Permission from Lynn Webster, MD

Description

  • Length/Time: 5 items, less than 1 minute to administer and score
  • Developed by: Webster & Webster, 2005
  • Target Population: Adults
  • Intended Settings: Primary care
  • Assesses: Risk of aberrant behaviors when patients are prescribed opioids for chronic pain
  • Administered by: Self-Report
  • Copyright: Yes

Evidence

  • Provides excellent discrimination between high risk and low risk patients (Passik, et al, 2008).
  • Exhibited a high degree of sensitivity and specificity for determining which individuals are at risk for opioid abuse (Webster & Webster, 2005).
  • Patients categorized as high-risk on the ORT have an increased likelihood of future abusive drug-related behavior (Chou et al., 2009).
Indications

  • Screens for risk of deviant behaviors associated with substance abuse in pain patients.
  • Preferable to SOAPP in low-risk populations (Passik, et al, 2008)

Advantages

  • Brief, simple scoring tool that is validated in pain populations (Passik, et al, 2008).
  • Validated for both male and female patients (Webster & Webster, 2005).

Limitations

  • One question on the ORT is limited by the patient's knowledge of family history of substance abuse (Passik, et al, 2008).
  • Not validated in non-pain populations.

The Opioid Risk Tool - Online Version

The Opioid Risk Tool - Printable Version


View References

Chou R, Fanciullo GJ, Fine PG, et al. Opioids for chronic noncancer pain: prediction and identification of aberrant drug-related behaviors: a review of evidence for an American Pain Society and American Academy of Pain Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline. J Pain. 2009; 10(2): 131-146.

Passik SD, Kirsh KL, Casper D. Addiction-related assessment tools and pain management: instruments for screening, treatment planning and monitoring compliance. Pain Med. 2008; 9: S145-S166.

Webster LR, Webster RM. Predicting aberrant behaviors in opioid-treated patients: preliminary validation of the Opioid Risk Tool. Pain Med. 2005; 6:432-42.