Evidence-based assessment/Instruments/Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

From Wikiversity
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Click Here for Landing Page
Click Here for Landing Page
HGAPS New for Fall 2022: HGAPS and Psychology Conferences
Click Here for Landing Page
Click Here for Landing Page

HGAPS is finding new ways to make psychological science conferences more accessible!

Here are examples from APA 2022 and the JCCAP Future Directions Forum. Coming soon... ABCT!
~ More at HGAPS.org ~



The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a ten-question test developed by a World Health Organization-sponsored collaborative project to determine if a person may be at risk for alcohol abuse problems. The test was designed to be used internationally, and was validated in a study drawing patients from six countries. Several research studies have found that the AUDIT screening tool is a reliable and valid measure in identifying alcohol abuse problem behaviors. There is some evidence that the AUDIT works in adolescents and young adults; it appears less accurate in older adults. It appears well-suited for use with college students, and also with women and members of minority groups. The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C) is a 3-question screening test for problem drinking used frequently in primary care settings.

Scoring and interpretation[edit | edit source]

Scoring the AUDIT is based on a 0-4 point scale. Six of the ten questions ask about the frequency of certain alcohol abuse behaviors and are scored by the following responses:

  • 0 points: "Never"
  • 1 point: "Less than monthly"
  • 2 points: "Monthly"
  • 3 points: "Weekly"
  • 4 points: "Daily, or almost daily"

The other four questions vary in participant response choice but are scored on a 0-4 point scale.

Item breakdown[edit | edit source]

The questions measure different domains of alcohol consumption problems. The breakdown is as follows:

  • 1-3: Measure frequency in alcohol consumption
  • 4-6: Measure alcohol dependence
  • 7-10: Measure alcohol related problems

Interpretation of scores[edit | edit source]

In order to score the AUDIT, point values of each answer choice are summed together and then interpreted based on the following criteria.

  • A score of 8 or more in men (7 in women) indicates a strong likelihood of hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption.
  • A score of 20 or more is suggestive of alcohol dependence (although some authors quote scores of more than 13 in women and 15 in men as indicating likely dependence).[1]

External links[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: Guidelines for Use in Primary Care, second edition, by Thomas F. Babor, John C. Higgins-Biddle, John B. Saunders, and Maristela G. Monteiro. Retrieved June 24, 2006.