Table of Contents
Description
The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) is a screening tool specifically designed to identify excessive and harmful patterns of alcohol consumption. Developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), it aims to provide a reliable and valid measure for detecting alcohol abuse in primary health care settings. The AUDIT consists of a 10-item questionnaire applicable for both adolescents and adults, which can be administered as a self-report or through practitioner-led interviews. Designed for ease of use, the test typically takes approximately 2 to 3 minutes to complete, allowing clients to seek clarification on any items as needed. The items encompass three main areas of concern: hazardous alcohol use, dependence symptoms, and harmful alcohol use, enabling practitioners to capture a comprehensive view of an individual’s drinking behaviors and their potential implications.
Authors and Contact Email
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Purpose
The primary purpose of the AUDIT is to screen for excessive and harmful alcohol use among individuals in primary care settings, facilitating early detection and intervention.
Test Year
Information not available
Administration Method and Scoring
The AUDIT is administered as a 10-item questionnaire, where each item is scored based on the client’s response. The overall score is calculated by summing the item scores. The score can be interpreted using the following guidelines: 8-15 indicates hazardous drinking, 16-19 indicates harmful alcohol use, and scores greater than 20 suggest alcohol dependence. Clinical judgment is advised when interpreting scores, with particular attention to high-scoring items that reflect harmful, hazardous, or dependence symptoms.
Reliability and Validity
The AUDIT exhibits strong reliability and consistency with the ICD-10 definitions of alcohol dependence and harmful use of alcohol. A systematic review by Meneses-Gaya et al. (2009) noted a mean Cronbach’s alpha of 0.80 across multiple studies, reflecting excellent internal consistency. Empirical evidence shows that AUDIT has excellent sensitivity and specificity, particularly with a cut-off point of 8, which yielded high sensitivity and specificity values across various national studies.
Factors and Subscales
The AUDIT is structured around three major factors:
1. Hazardous Alcohol Use (items 1 to 3)
2. Dependence Symptoms (items 4 to 6)
3. Harmful Alcohol Use (items 7 to 10)
Keywords
Alcohol Use, Screening Tool, AUDIT, Alcohol Dependence, Primary Care, Health Assessment, Alcohol Abuse, Reliability, Validity
Items of ‘Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT)’
1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
(0) Never [Skip to Qs 9-10] (1) Monthly or less (2) 2 to 4 times a month (3) 2 to 3 times a week (4) 4 or more times a week
2. 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
3. How often do you have 6 or more drinks on one occasion?
(0) Never (1) Less than monthly (2) Monthly (3) Weekly (4) Daily or almost daily
4. Have you or someone else been annoyed by your drinking?
(0) No (2) Yes, but not in the last year (4) Yes, during the last year
5. Have you ever felt you ought to cut down on your drinking?
(0) No (2) Yes, but not in the last year (4) Yes, during the last year
6. Have you ever had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?
(0) No (2) Yes, but not in the last year (4) Yes, during the last year
7. Have you ever been unable to remember what happened the night before because of your drinking?
(0) No (2) Yes, but not in the last year (4) Yes, during the last year
8. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?
(0) No (2) Yes, but not in the last year (4) Yes, during the last year
9. 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
10. Has a relative, friend, doctor, or other health care 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
References
Menese-Gaya, C., Zuardi, A., Loureiro, S., & Crippa, J. (2009). Alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT): An updated systematic review of psychometric properties. Psychology & Neuroscience, 2(2), 83-97 DOI: 10.3922/j.psns.2009.1.12
Heather, N. (2006). WHO collaborative project on identification and management of Alcohol-related problems in primary health care. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/identification_management_alcoholproblems_phaseiv.pdf?ua=1
Babor, T. F., Higgins-Biddle, J. C., Saunders, J. B., Monterio, M. G. (2001). AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Guidelines for Use in Primary Care (second edition) Retrieved from http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/audit/en/https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/alcohol-use-disorder-identification-test-audit/