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Contrasting self-report screens for alcohol problems: a review
S A Maisto1, G J Connors, J P Allen
1Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, NY 13244, USA.
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|December 1, 1995
Summary
This study reviewed self-report alcohol screening tools, finding the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and CAGE equally effective, though CAGE may be better for elderly patients. Research priorities for these alcohol problem identification instruments are discussed.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Psychometrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Growing emphasis on identifying diverse levels of alcohol problems in healthcare.
- Need for validated self-report measures for alcohol problem screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the relative utility of self-report screening measures for alcohol problems.
- To inform the selection of appropriate screening instruments in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of empirical literature comparing self-report alcohol screening measures.
- Identification and analysis of 13 relevant studies across varied populations and settings.
Main Results:
- CAGE, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), and short MAST (sMAST) are the most studied instruments.
- MAST is generally more sensitive than CAGE, but CAGE may be superior for elderly patients.
- CAGE and sMAST show comparable performance; all instruments perform best when predicting similar criteria.
Conclusions:
- The CAGE, MAST, and sMAST are valuable tools for screening alcohol problems.
- Instrument selection may depend on the specific population (e.g., elderly patients).
- Further research is needed to refine and validate alcohol screening instruments.