The following guidelines, questions, and scoring instructions are excerpted from Babor, T.F.; de la Fuente, J.R.; Saunders, J.; and Grant, M. AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: Guidelines for Use in Primary Health Care. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1992.
Screening with AUDIT can be conducted in a variety of primary care settings by persons who have different kinds of training and professional backgrounds. The core AUDIT is designed to be used as a brief structured interview or self-report survey that can easily be incorporated into a general health interview, lifestyle questionnaire, or medical history. When presented in this context by a concerned and interested interviewer, few patients will be offended by the questions. The experience of the WHO collaborating investigators (Saunders and Aasland, 1987) indicated that AUDIT questions were answered accurately regardless of cultural background, age, or gender. In fact, many patients who drank heavily were pleased to find that a health worker was interested in their use of alcohol and the problems associated with it.
In some patients, the AUDIT questions may not be answered accurately because they refer specifically to alcohol use and problems. Some patients may be reluctant to confront their alcohol use or to admit that it is causing them harm. Individuals who feel threatened by revealing this information to a health worker, who are intoxicated at the time of the interview, or who have certain kinds of mental impairment may give inaccurate responses. Patients tend to answer most accurately when
The interviewer is friendly and nonthreatening
The purpose of the questions is clearly related to a diagnosis of their health status
The patient is alcohol- and drug-free at the time of the screening
The information is considered confidential
The questions are easy to understand
Health workers should try to establish these conditions before AUDIT is given. When these conditions are not present, the Clinical Screening Instrument following the AUDIT questionnaire may be more useful. Alternatively, health workers may also use AUDIT to guide an interview with a concerned friend, spouse, or family member. In some settings (such as waiting rooms), AUDIT may be administered as a self-report questionnaire, with instructions for the patient to discuss the meaning of the results with the primary care worker. . . In addition to these general considerations, the following interviewing techniques should be used:
Try to interview patients under the best possible circumstances. For patients requiring emergency treatment or who are severely impaired, it is best to wait until their condition has stabilized and they have become accustomed to the health setting where the interview is to take place.
Look for signs of alcohol or drug intoxication. Patients who have alcohol on their breath or who appear intoxicated may be unreliable respondents. Consider conducting the interview at a later time. If this is not possible, make note of these findings on the patient's record.
If AUDIT is embedded, as recommended, in a longer health interview, then a transitional statement will be needed when the AUDIT questions are asked. The best way to introduce the AUDIT questions is to give the patient a general idea of the content of the questions, the purpose for asking them, and the need for accurate answers. The following is an illustrative introduction: "Now I am going to ask you some questions about your use of alcoholic beverages during the past year. Because alcohol use can affect many areas of health (and may interfere with certain medications), it is important for us to know how much you usually drink and whether you have experienced any problems with your drinking. Please try to be as honest and as accurate as you can be." This statement should be followed by a description of the types of alcoholic beverages typically consumed in the population to which the patient belongs (e.g., "By alcoholic beverages we mean your use of wine, beer, vodka, sherry, etc.") If necessary, include a description of beverages that may not be considered alcoholic, e.g., cider, low alcohol beer, etc. . . .
It is important to read the questions as written and in the order indicated. By following the exact wording, better comparability will be obtained between your results and those obtained by other interviewers.
Most of the questions in AUDIT are phrased in terms of "how often" symptoms occur. It is useful to offer the patient several examples of the response categories (for example, "Never," "Several times a month," "Daily") to suggest how he might answer. When he has responded, it is useful to probe during the initial questions to be sure that the patient has selected the most accurate response (for example, "You say you drink several times a week. Is this just on weekends or do you drink more or less every day?"). If responses are ambiguous or evasive, continue asking for clarification by repeating the question and the response options, asking the patient to choose the best one. At times, answers are difficult to record because the patient may not drink on a regular basis. For example, if the patient was drinking intensively for the month prior to an accident, but not before or since, then it will be difficult to characterize the "typical" drinking sought by the question. In these cases it is best to record the amount of drinking and related symptoms for the heaviest drinking period of the past year, making note of the fact that this may be atypical or transitory for that individual.
Record answers carefully, using the comments section of the interview brochure to explain any special circumstances, additional information, or clinical inferences. Often patients will provide the interviewer with useful comments about their drinking that can be valuable in the interpretation of the total AUDIT score. . . .
Circle the number that comes closest to the patient's answer.
How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
(0) Never
(1) Monthly or less
(2) Two to four times a month
(3)Two to three times a week
(4)Four or more times a week
How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?
(0) 1 or 2
(1) 3 or 4
(2 5 or 6
(3) 7 to 9
(4)10 or more
How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3)Weekly
(4)FDaily or almost daily
How often during the last year have you found that you were not
able to stop drinking once you had started?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3)Weekly
(4)Daily or almost daily
How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally
expected from you because of drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3)Weekly
(4)Daily or almost daily
How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in
the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3)Weekly
(4)Daily or almost daily
How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or
remorse after drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3)Weekly
(4)Daily or almost daily
How often during the last year have you been unable to remember
what happened the night before because you had been drinking?
(0) Never
(1) Less than monthly
(2) Monthly
(3)Weekly
(4)Daily or almost daily
Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?
(0) No
(2) Yes, but not in the last year
(4)Yes, during the last year
Has a relative or friend or a doctor or other health worker been
concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?
(0) No
(2) Yes, but not in the last year
(4)Yes, during the last year
* In determining the response categories it has been assumed that one drink contains 10 g alcohol. In countries where the alcohol content of a standard drink differs by more than 25 percent from 10 g, the response category should be modified accordingly.
Record sum of individual item scores here. ________
The minimum score (for nondrinkers) is 0 and the maximum possible score is 40. A score of 8 or more indicates a strong likelihood of hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption.
As indicated by the AUDIT questions, each item is scored by checking the response category that comes closest to the patient's answer.
On the basis of evidence from the validation study
(Saunders et al., in press),
two cutoff points are suggested, depending on the purpose of the screening program or the nature of the research project. A score of 8 or more produces the highest sensitivity, while a score of 10 or more results in higher specificity. In general, high scores on the first three items in the absence of elevated scores on the remaining items suggest hazardous alcohol use. Elevated scores on items 4 through 6 imply the presence or emergence of alcohol dependence. High scores on the remaining items suggest harmful alcohol use. As discussed in the following section on diagnosis, each of these areas of alcohol-related problems implies different types of management.
The Clinical Screening Instrument is considered to be elevated when the total score is 5 or greater. Here, too, the examiner should give careful consideration to the different meanings attributed to alcohol-related trauma, physical signs, and the elevated liver enzyme. It should be noted that false positives can occur when the individual is accident prone, uses drugs (such as barbiturates) that induce GGT, or has hand tremor because of nervousness, neurological disorder, or nicotine dependence.
Saunders, J.B., and Aasland, O.G. WHO Collaborative Project on the Identification and Treatment of Persons with Harmful Alcohol Consumption. Report on Phase I: Development of a Screening Instrument. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1987.
Saunders, J.B.; Aasland, O.G.; Babor, T.F.; de la Fuente, J.R.; and Grant, M. WHO collaborative project on early detection of persons with harmful alcohol consumption. II. Development of the screening instrument "AUDIT." British Journal of Addictions, in press.
1. *Do you feel you are a normal drinker? (By normal we mean you drink
less than or as much as most other people)
YES
NO
(2)
2. Have you ever awakened the morning after some drinking the night
before and found that you could not remember a part of the evening?
YES
NO
(1)
3. Does your wife, husband, a parent, or other near relative ever
worry or complain abut your drinking?
YES
NO
(2)
4. *Can you stop drinking without a struggle after one or two drinks?
YES
NO
(1)
5. Do you ever feel guilty about your drinking?
YES
NO
(2)
6. *Do friends or relatives think you are a normal drinker?
YES
NO
(2)
7. *Are you able to stop drinking when you want to?
YES
NO
(5)
8. Have you ever attended a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?
YES
NO
(1)
9. Have you gotten into physical fights when drinking?
YES
NO
(2)
10. Has your drinking ever created problems between you and your
wife, husband, a parent, or other relative?
YES
NO
(2)
11. Has your wife, husband (or other family member) ever
gone to anyone for help about your drinking?
YES
NO
(2)
12. Have you ever lost friends because of your drinking?
YES
NO
(2)
13. Have you ever gotten into trouble at work or school because
of drinking?
YES
NO
(2)
14. Have you ever lost a job because of drinking?
YES
NO
(2)
15. Have you ever neglected your obligations, your family, or your
work for two or more days in a row because you were drinking?
YES
NO
(1)
16. Do you drink before noon fairly often?
YES
NO
(2)
17. Have you ever been told you have liver trouble? Cirrhosis?
YES
NO
(2)
18. **After heavy drinking have you ever had Delirium Tremens (DTs)
or severe shaking or heard voices or seen things that really weren't there?
YES
NO
(5)
19. Have you ever gone to anyone for help about your drinking?
YES
NO
(5)
20. Have you ever been in a hospital because of drinking?
YES
NO
(2)
21. Have you ever been a patient in a psychiatric hospital or on
a psychiatric ward of a general hospital where drinking was part of the
problem that resulted in hospitalization?
YES
NO
(2)
22. Have you ever been seen at a psychiatric or mental health clinic
or gone to any doctor, social worker, or clergyman for help with any emotional
problem where drinking was part of the problem?
YES
NO
(2)
23. ***Have you ever been arrested for drunk driving, driving while
intoxicated, or driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages? If YES, how many times? _______
YES
NO
(2)
24. Have you ever been arrested, or taken into custody, even for
a few hours, because of other drunk behavior? If YES, how many times?______
SCORING SYSTEM:
In general, five points or more would place the subject in alcoholic category. Four points would be suggestive of alcoholism, and three points or fewer would indicate the subject is not alcoholic.
Source: Selzer, M.L. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test: The quest for a new diagnostic instrument. American Journal of Psychiatry 127:1653-1658, 1971.
DATE OF ADMINISTRATION: ______________________________
1. Do you feel you are a normal drinker? (By normal we mean you drink less than or as much as most other people)
YES
NO
2. Does your wife, husband, a parent, or other near relative ever worry or complain about your drinking?
YES
NO
3. Do you ever feel guilty about your drinking?
YES
NO
4. Do friends or relatives think you are a normal drinker?
YES
NO
5. Are you able to stop drinking when you want to?
YES
NO
6. Have you ever attended a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous?
YES
NO
7. Has drinking ever created problems between you and your wife, husband, a parent, or other near relative?
YES
NO
8. Have you ever gotten into trouble at work or school because of drinking?
YES
NO
9. Have you ever neglected your obligations, your family, or your work for two or more days in a row because you were drinking?
YES
NO
10. Have you ever gone to anyone for help about your drinking? If YES: was this other than Alcoholics Anonymous or a hospital? (If YES, code as YES; if NO, code as NO)
YES
NO
11. Have you ever been in a hospital because of drinking? If YES: Was this for (a) detox; (b) alcoholism treatment; (c) alcohol-related injuries or medical problems, e.g., cirrhosis or physical injury incurred while under the influence of alcohol (car accident, fight, etc.)?
YES
NO
12. Have you ever been arrested for drunken driving, driving while intoxicated, or driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages?
YES
NO
13. Have you ever been arrested, even for a few hours, because of other drunken behavior?
YES
NO
Source: Selzer, M.L.; Vinokur, A.; and Van Rooijen, L. A self-administered Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (SMAST). Journal of Studies on Alcohol 36(1):117-126, 1975.
1. After drinking have you ever noticed an increase in your heart rate or beating in your chest?
YES
NO
2. When talking with others, do you ever underestimate how much you actually drink?
YES
NO
3. Does alcohol make you sleepy so that you often fall asleep in your chair?
YES
NO
4. After a few drinks, have you sometimes not eaten or been able to skip a meal because you didn't feel hungry?
YES
NO
5. Does having a few drinks help decrease your shakiness or tremors?
YES
NO
6. Does alcohol sometimes make it hard for you to remember parts of the day or night?
YES
NO
7. Do you have rules for yourself that you won't drink before a certain time of the day?
YES
NO
8. Have you lost interest in hobbies or activities you used to enjoy?
YES
NO
9. When you wake up in the morning, do you ever have trouble remembering part of the night before?
YES
NO
10. Does having a drink help you sleep?
YES
NO
11. Do you hide your alcohol bottles from family members?
YES
NO
12. After a social gathering, have you ever felt embarrassed because you drank too much?
YES
NO
13. Have you ever been concerned that drinking might be harmful to your health?
YES
NO
14. Do you like to end an evening with a night cap?
YES
NO
15. Did you find your drinking increased after someone close to you died?
YES
NO
16. In general, would you prefer to have a few drinks at home rather than go out to social events?
YES
NO
17. Are you drinking more now than in the past?
YES
NO
18. Do you usually take a drink to relax or calm your nerves?
YES
NO
19. Do you drink to take your mind off your problems?
YES
NO
20. Have you ever increased your drinking after experiencing a loss in your life?
YES
NO
21. Do you sometimes drive when you have had too much to drink?
YES
NO
22. Has a doctor or nurse ever said they were worried or concerned about your drinking?
YES
NO
23. Have you ever made rules to manage your drinking?
YES
NO
24. When you feel lonely does having a drink help?
YES
NO
Scoring: 5 or more "yes" responses indicative of alcohol problem. For further information, contact Frederick Blow, Ph.D., at University of Michigan Alcohol Research Center, 400 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Suite A, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. (313) 998-7952.
Source: Blow, F.C.; Brower, K.J.; Schulenberg, J.E.; Demo-Dananberg, L.M.; Young, J.P.; and Beresford, T.P. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test -- Geriatric Version (MAST-G): A new elderly-specific screening instrument. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 16:372, 1992.
Developed for the Adolescent Assessment/Referral System
NOTIFICATION TO RESPONDENT OF ESTIMATED BURDEN
Public respondent burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 25 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions and completing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate, or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Public Health Service Reports Clearance Officer, Attn: PRA, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Room 721B, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20201; and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, Washington, DC 20803.
The purpose of these questions is to help us choose the best way to help you. So, please try to answer the questions honestly.
Please answer all the questions. If a question does not fit you exactly, pick the answer that is most true.
You may see the same or similar questions more than once. Please just answer each question as it comes up.
Please put an "X" through your answer.
If you do not understand a word, please ask for help.
You may begin.
1. Do you have so much energy you don't know what to do with it?
YES
NO
2. Do you brag?
YES
NO
3. Do you get into trouble because you use drugs or alcohol at school?
YES
NO
4. Do your friends get bored at parties when there is no alcohol served?
YES
NO
5. Is it hard for you to ask for help from others?
YES
NO
6. Has there been adult supervision at the parties you have gone to recently?
YES
NO
7. Do your parents or guardians argue a lot?
YES
NO
8. Do you usually think about how your actions will affect others?
YES
NO
9. Have you recently either lost or gained more than 10 pounds?
YES
NO
10. Have you ever had sex with someone who shot up drugs?
YES
NO
11. Do you often feel tired?
YES
NO
12. Have you had trouble with stomach pain or nausea?
YES
NO
13. Do you get easily frightened?
YES
NO
14. Have any of your best friends dated regularly during the past year?
YES
NO
15. Have you dated regularly in the past year?
YES
NO
16. Do you have a skill, craft, trade, or work experience?
YES
NO
17. Are most of your friends older than you?
YES
NO
18. Do you have less energy than you think you should?
YES
NO
19. Do you get frustrated easily?
YES
NO
20. Do you threaten to hurt people?
YES
NO
21. Do you feel alone most of the time?
YES
NO
22. Do you sleep either too much or too little?
YES
NO
23. Do you swear or use dirty language?
YES
NO
24. Are you a good listener?
YES
NO
25. Do your parents or guardians approve of your friends?
YES
NO
26. Have you lied to anyone in the past week?
YES
NO
27. Do your parents or guardians refuse to talk to you when they are mad at you?
YES
NO
28. Do you rush into things without thinking about what could happen?
YES
NO
29. Did you have a paying job last summer?
YES
NO
30. Is your free time spent just hanging out with friends?
YES
NO
31. Have you accidentally hurt yourself or someone else while high on alcohol or drugs?
YES
NO
32. Have you had any accidents or injuries that still bother you?
YES
NO
33. Are you a good speller?
YES
NO
34. Do you have friends who damage or destroy things on purpose?
YES
NO
35. Have the whites of your eyes ever turned yellow?
YES
NO
36. Do your parents or guardians usually know where you are and what you are doing?
YES
NO
37. Do you miss out on activities because you spend too much money on drugs or alcohol?
YES
NO
38. Do people pick on you because of the way you look?
YES
NO
39. Do you know how to get a job if you want one?
YES
NO
40. Do your parents or guardians and you do lots of things together?
YES
NO
41. Do you get As and Bs in some classes and fail others?
YES
NO
42. Do you feel nervous most of the time?
YES
NO
43. Have you stolen things?
YES
NO
44. Have you ever been told you are hyperactive?
YES
NO
45. Do you ever feel you are addicted to alcohol or drugs?
YES
NO
46. Are you a good reader?
YES
NO
47. Do you have a hobby you are really interested in?
YES
NO
48. Do you plan to get a diploma (or already have one)?
YES
NO
49. Have you been frequently absent or late to work?
YES
NO
50. Do you feel people are against you?
YES
NO
51. Do you participate in team sports which have regular practices?
YES
NO
52. Have you ever read a book cover to cover for your own enjoyment?
YES
NO
53. Do you have chores that you must regularly do at home?
YES
NO
54. Do your friends bring drugs to parties?
YES
NO
55. Do you get into fights a lot?
YES
NO
56. Do you have a hot temper?
YES
NO
57. Do your parents or guardians pay attention when you talk with them?
YES
NO
58. Have you started using more drugs or alcohol to get the effect you want?
YES
NO
59. Do your parents or guardians have rules about what you can and cannot do?
YES
NO
60. Do people tell you that you are careless?
YES
NO
61. Are you stubborn?
YES
NO
62. Do any of your best friends go out on school nights without permission from their parents or guardians?
YES
NO
63. Have you ever had or do you now have a job?
YES
NO
64. Do you have trouble getting your mind off things?
YES
NO
65. Have you ever threatened anyone with a weapon?
YES
NO
66. Do you have a way to get to a job?
YES
NO
67. Do you ever leave a party because there is no alcohol or drugs?
YES
NO
68. Do your parents or guardians know what you really think or feel?
YES
NO
69. Do you often act on the spur of the moment?
YES
NO
70. Do you usually exercise for a half hour or more at least once a week?
YES
NO
71. Do you have a constant desire for alcohol or drugs?
YES
NO
72. Is it easy to learn new things?
YES
NO
73. Do you have trouble with your breathing or with coughing?
YES
NO
74. Do people your own age like and respect you?
YES
NO
75. Does your mind wander a lot?
YES
NO
76. Do you hear things no one else around you hears?
YES
NO
77. Do you have trouble concentrating?
YES
NO
78. Do you have a valid driver's license?
YES
NO
79. Have you ever had a paying job that lasted at least 1 month?
YES
NO
80. Do you and your parents or guardians have frequent arguments which involve yelling and screaming?
YES
NO
81. Have you had a car accident while high on alcohol or drugs?
YES
NO
82. Do you forget things you did while drinking or using drugs?
YES
NO
83. During the past month have you driven a car while you were drunk or high?
YES
NO
84. Are you louder than other kids?
YES
NO
85. Are most of your friends younger than you are?
YES
NO
86. Have you ever intentionally damaged someone else's property?
YES
NO
87. Have you ever stopped working at a job because you just didn't care?
YES
NO
88. Do your parents or guardians like talking with you and being with you?
YES
NO
89. Have you ever spent the night away from home when your parents didn't know where you were?
YES
NO
90. Have any of your best friends participated in team sports which require regular practices?
YES
NO
91. Are you suspicious of other people?
YES
NO
92. Are you already too busy with school and other adult supervised activities to be interested in a job?
YES
NO
93. Have you cut school at least 5 days in the past year?
YES
NO
94. Are you usually pleased with how well you do in activities with your friends?
YES
NO
95. Does alcohol or drug use cause your moods to change quickly like from happy to sad or vice versa?
YES
NO
96. Do you feel sad most of the time?
YES
NO
97. Do you miss school or arrive late for school because of your alcohol or drug use?
YES
NO
98. Is it important to you now to get or keep a satisfactory job?
YES
NO
99. Do your family or friends ever tell you that you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?
YES
NO
100. Do you have serious arguments with friends or family members because of your drinking or drug use?
YES
NO
101. Do you tease others a lot?
YES
NO
102. Do you have trouble sleeping?
YES
NO
103. Do you have trouble with written work?
YES
NO
104. Does your alcohol or drug use ever make you do something you would not normally do-like breaking rules, missing curfew, breaking the law, or having sex with someone?
YES
NO
105. Do you feel you lose control and get into fights?
YES
NO
106. Have you ever been fired from a job?
YES
NO
107. During the past month, have you skipped school?
YES
NO
108. Do you have trouble getting along with any of your friends because of your alcohol or drug use?
YES
NO
109. Do you have a hard time following directions?
YES
NO
110. Are you good at talking your way out of trouble?
YES
NO
111. Do you have friends who have hit or threatened to hit someone without any real reason?
YES
NO
112. Do you ever feel you can't control your alcohol and drug use?
YES
NO
113. Do you have a good memory?
YES
NO
114. Do your parents or guardians have a pretty good idea of your interests?
YES
NO
115. Do your parents or guardians usually agree about how to handle you?
YES
NO
116. Do you have a hard time planning and organizing?
YES
NO
117. Do you have trouble with math?
YES
NO
118. Do your friends cut school a lot?
YES
NO
119. Do you worry a lot?
YES
NO
120. Do you find it difficult to complete class projects or work tasks?
YES
NO
121. Does school sometimes make you feel stupid?
YES
NO
122. Are you able to make friends easily in a new group?
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