Detection of alcoholism among psychiatric inpatients

One hundred and eighty four consecutive admissions to male psychiatric open and closed wards were examined for evidence of alcoholism. Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) was used for this purpose. The present study shows a prevalence rate of alcohol users to be 41.3 per cent. Nineteen percent could be called alcoholic. MAST correlated well with Spitzer's RDG criteria for alcoholism. The family history of non-users was significantly different from that of the alcohol users. The findings are discussed in the light of existing literature both in India and in the West.