Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test Scores Research Articles

Occurrence and correlates of domestic violence among asian patients with alcohol use disorder seeking treatment for cessation

ObjectiveAlcohol use disorder (AUD) has significant social and economic consequences in addition to health implications. Alcohol and drug use are linked to violence, particularly intimate partner violence and domestic violence. Identifying the characteristics of individuals with AUD and a history of domestic violence is important. Our study aimed to investigate differences between AUD patients with and without domestic violence. MethodsThis retrospective study examined the medical records of individuals diagnosed with AUD participating in a central Taiwan alcohol treatment program from 2019 to 2020. Utilizing the Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener questionnaire (CAGE), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Brief Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL), and a question on suicidal ideation, we collected data on diverse variables, including a history of domestic violence. A total of 136 individuals were included in the analysis. ResultsTwenty participants had a history of domestic violence, while 116 did not. Those with a history of domestic violence had significantly higher MAST scores, lower quality of life, and higher caregiver burden compared to those without a history of domestic violence. They also had a higher proportion of adverse consequences related to alcohol use and higher suicidal ideation scores. ConclusionsIt is important to assess the risk of domestic violence in individuals with AUD, particularly those with higher MAST scores. Questions 4 and 10 of the MAST, which relate to adverse consequences of alcohol use, such as losing friends or being arrested for drunk driving, could serve as warning questions for domestic violence. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy of interventions in reducing domestic violence risk in individuals with AUD.

RETN gene polymorphisms interact with alcohol dependence in association with depression.

Previous studies suggest that alcohol dependence is associated with increased risk of depression. The occurrence of depressive symptoms is related to polymorphisms in various genetic regions. This study aimed to investigate the interaction of RETN gene polymorphisms (rs1477341, rs3745368) with alcohol dependence on depressive symptoms in adult male during acute alcohol withdrawal. A total of 429 male adults were recruited in this study. Alcohol dependence was assessed using the Michigan alcoholism screening test (MAST). Depression was assessed using the 20-item self-rating depression scale (SDS). Hierarchical regression analysis was used to evaluate the interaction between genes and alcohol dependence on depression. Region of significance (ROS) test was used to explain the interaction effect. The strong and weak forms of the differential susceptibility and diathesis models were used to determine which fits the data better. Our results showed that MAST scores were significantly positively associated with SDS scores (r = 0.23, p < 0.01) in alcohol-dependent patients during alcohol withdrawal. The interaction between genotype and alcohol dependence was significant (β = -0.14, p < 0.05) in a strong diathesis-stress model. Susceptibility for depression symptoms was associated with alcohol dependence in RETN rs1477341 A carriers. Specifically, those that showed more alcohol dependence and the A allele of RETN rs1477341 exhibited more depression symptoms. However, RETN rs3745368 had no significant interaction with alcohol dependence. The A allele of RETN rs1477341 may correlate with susceptibility to depression symptoms in alcohol-dependent individuals during acute alcohol withdrawal.

Suicide Ideation among Outpatients with Alcohol Use Disorder.

Introduction Individuals with substance use disorders, particularly those with alcohol use disorder (AUD), have a high risk of suicide. Therefore, identifying risk factors for suicide in these individuals is crucial. Methods This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of individuals with AUD who participated in an alcohol treatment program in central Taiwan during 2019–2020. We collected data using the Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Brief Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and a suicidal ideation question. Furthermore, we collected information on several related variables, namely, sex, age, marital status, years in school, employment status, family history of alcohol problems, age at first exposure to alcohol, duration of alcohol use, history of alcohol cessation, history of domestic violence, and history of drunk driving. In total, 136 individuals were recruited to participate in this study. Results The suicidal ideation group had significantly younger participants, a higher proportion of women, a higher proportion of participants with a history of domestic violence, a greater severity of alcohol addiction (based on both AUDIT and MAST scores), higher depression scores, higher anxiety scores, less social support, a lower quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)), and poorer sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI) compared with the nonsuicidal ideation group. The suicidal ideation score was correlated with the AUDIT score after age, and BDI, BAI, WHOQOL, and PSQI scores were controlled for (P = 0.034). Conclusion Individuals with higher AUDIT scores visiting a clinic for alcohol treatment might have a higher risk of suicidal ideation. Therefore, clinicians should pay close attention to the suicidal ideation problem in this population. Furthermore, appropriate medication or management programs for suicide prevention should be considered.

The contribution of psychopathic traits and substance use in the prediction of recidivism of sexual offenders

Substance use and dependence may play an essential role in the risk of reoffending by sex offenders. Research examining the influence of substance use and dependence on the criminal behaviour of psychopathic sex offenders is limited. Alcohol and drug use have been identified as factors which promote criminal behaviour and are suspected to contribute, at least partially, to the probability of reoffending. For instance, previous research showed that elevated scores on the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) contribute to the predictability of the Hare Psychopathy Checklist – Revised (PCL-R) on recidivism. The current study retrospectively evaluated a database of incarcerated high-risk offenders registered in the Regional Treatment Center, Sex Offender Treatment Program (RTCSOTP); in order to assess the contribution of self-disclosed histories of alcohol and substance use and dependency have, in concert with measures of psychopathic characteristics, on the predictability of recidivism. Results of the retrospective data identified PCL-R and DAST (Drug Abuse Screening Test) scores as significant predictors of sexual and violent recidivism of male inmates undergoing treatment in RTCSOTP within 5 years of their release. MAST scores, however, did not significantly contribute to the predictability of sexual and violent recidivism in this population. We conclude, drug use should be considered as an important factor when addressing recidivism in sexual offenders who demonstrate psychopathic characteristics.

The Interaction of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 Superfamily Genes Is Associated With Alcohol Dependence-Related Aggression.

Alcohol dependence (AD) is characterized by compulsive alcohol consumption, which involves behavioral impairments such as aggression. Members of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 superfamily, including FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23, are major endocrine mediators that play an important role in alcohol metabolism and alcohol related disorders. The objective of the present study is to explore the possible associations among the interaction of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the FGF 19 superfamily, AD occurrence, and aggression in patients with AD. A total of 956 subjects were enrolled in this study, including 482 AD patients and 474 healthy controls (HCs). Michigan alcoholism screening test (MAST) was used to measure the level of AD, a Chinese version of the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire was used to evaluate the aggressive behavior of subjects, and MassARRAY@ system was used to genotype rs948992 of FGF19, rs11665841 and rs11665896 of FGF21, rs7955866 and rs11063118 of FGF23. The results showed that AD patients presented a significantly higher level of aggression compared to HCs, and MAST scores were significantly positively associated Buss–Perry aggression scores (r = 0.402, p < 0.001) in AD patients. The interaction of FGF19 rs948992 TC × FGF21 rs11665896 GG presented the high-risk genotype combination predicting the high level of AD. In addition, the interaction of FGF19 rs948992 TC × FGF21 rs11665896 TG × FGF23 rs11063118 TT presented the high-risk genotype combination predicting the high level of aggression in AD patients. Our results added evidence linking the combination of rs948992 TC × rs11665896 TG × rs11063118 TT to aggressive behavior in AD patients and pointed out the potential usefulness of the SNPs of FGF19 superfamily as a predictor for the aggression in AD patients.

SUN-LB103 The Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Insulin Sensitivity in Obesity

BACKGROUNDThe effects of alcohol intake on insulin sensitivity have produced conflicting results with both beneficial and adverse effects observed. This study aimed to compare the relationship between patterns of alcohol consumption and insulin sensitivity in obese Veterans. METHODSWe performed a cross-sectional study of obese (BMI 30.0-45.0 kg/m2), nondiabetic U.S. Military Veterans without active mental health diagnoses, including no report of dependent alcohol use within the last 12 months. Alcohol exposure over the previous 12 months (mos) was assessed using a study-developed questionnaire and Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). Fasting insulin, glucose, and a 75gm OGTT were completed to determine Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and prediabetes (preDM) score of 0, 1, or 2 based on fulfilling 0, 1, or at least 2 of the ADA criteria for preDM, respectively. Linear regression was used to assess for associations between measures of insulin resistance and alcohol consumption; unstandardized β and p-value are reported for variable of interest. RESULTS104 Veterans participated (66% males; 44±8years (range: 25-60); BMI 36±4kg/m2 (range: 29-45); 53% White, 46% African American, 2% Alaskan/Native American, 1% Other). 83 participants reported any alcohol intake in the previous 12 mos and neither preDM score (p=0.57) nor HOMA-IR (p=0.14) were predicted by this question. PreDM score groups were similar in gender, BMI, and weight, but age predicted both preDM score (r2=0.09, β=0.025, p=0.006) and HOMA-IR (r2=0.05, β=-0.09, p=0.034); therefore, all regressions were adjusted for age. There was a negative association between the number of days of alcohol intake with HOMA-IR (β=-0.271, p=0.037) but no association occurred with preDM score (p=0.15). Fewer days of binge drinking was associated with higher HOMA-IR (β= -0.342, p=0.058) and preDM score (β=-0.075, p=0.05). There was no significant association between total quantity of alcohol intake and HOMA-IR (p=0.13) nor preDM score (p=0.15). There was no association between MAST score and HOMA-IR (p=0.7) or preDM score (p=0.3). CONCLUSIONIn our cohort of obese, non-alcohol dependent Veterans, the reported number of days of alcohol intake and days of binge drinking in the previous 12 mos were lower in those with markers of insulin resistance. These results suggest that drinking patterns among obese patients may have unique effects on insulin sensitivity that warrant further investigation.

Determination of the Relationship Between Craving and 4-repeat Allele of DRD4 Gene Polymorphism in the Early Withdrawal Period of Alcohol Use Disorders.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a disease with chronic relapses. Risk factors of craving, which is thought to be one of the predictors of relapse, have been studied for a long time. The DRD4 gene is located on chromosome 11p and has a 48-base pair variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms in the 3rd exon. This study aimed to investigate if a relationship existed between craving and DRD4 VNTR polymorphism and to determine the predictors of craving. A total of 125 patients with AUD were included in the study. The sociodemographic data form, the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS), and the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) were applied to the patients. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the DRD4 VNTR variant of all participants in the peripheral blood sample. In the 4R/4R homozygous group, it was found that the age at first alcohol use was higher and the scores of the OCDS on the seventh day were lower, but this relationship could not be demonstrated in further statistical analyses. In the stepwise linear regression model, the age at first alcohol use, MAST score, duration of AUD, and delirium tremens history were found to be the predictors of craving. DRD4 VNTR polymorphism does not play a role as a predictor of craving. A decrease in age at first alcohol use, an increase in the MAST score, and the presence of delirium tremens were found to be the predictors of craving among the participants of this study.

Alkol tüketimi ve deri hastalıkları arasındaki ilişki: Kesitsel kontrollü bir çalışma

Objective: Certain skin diseases have been associated with increased alcohol consumption. Our aim was to investigate whether alcohol use and addiction have any effect on dermatologic diseases and relationship between alcohol consumption and cutaneous disease. Method: A total of 100 patients with psychiatric comorbidity and diagnosed with psychodermatologic disease (psoriasis, acne, chronic uticaria, psychogenic pruritus, alopecia areata), 60 patients with chronic dermatosis and 74 healthy subjects were enrolled to this study. They were given a questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, the history of the disease, the questions aimed to examine relationship between alcohol use and cutaneous disease, and Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). All data were assessed statistically. Results: The ratio of alcohol consumption in our study population was 14,9%. The prevalence percentages of alcohol usage in the group of psychodermatologic diseases, in the group of chronic diseases and normal population were 18%, 8,3% and 16,2% respectively. This difference between the groups was not significant statistically (p=0.236). In terms of MAST score, the difference between the groups was not significant statistically (p=0.075). However, the relationship between alcohol and skin disease could not been evaluated because of the rate of alcohol use was low. Conclusion: Patients with dermatologic diseases associated with psychosocial morbidity did not consume more alcohol than patients with other chronic diseases and normal population. However, because of different sociocultural effects, there is a need of broad-scale and multicenter studies for more determinative results.

Daily mood–drinking slopes as predictors: A new take on drinking motives and related outcomes.

Motivational models of alcohol consumption have articulated the manner in which positive and negative experiences motivate drinking in unique social contexts (e.g., M. L. Cooper, M. R. Frone, M. Russell & P. Mudar, 1995, Drinking to regulate positive and negative emotions: A motivational model of alcohol use, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 69, pp. 990-1005). Daily process methodology, in which daily events, moods, and drinking behaviors are reported daily or multiple times per day, has been used to examine behavioral patterns that are consistent with discrete motivations. We advance the notion that repeated patterns of drinking in various social contexts as a function of positive or negative mood increases can provide evidence of individual-level if-then drinking signatures, which in turn can predict drinking-related outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of slopes to predict longer term drinking motivations and alcohol problems by employing a daily-process study of nonclinical moderate alcohol drinkers (N = 47; 49% women). Participants responded to thrice daily interviews administered via handheld computer for 30 days, followed by a longitudinal telephone survey for 12 months. Participants' daily mood-drinking relationships were extracted from hierarchical linear modeling and employed as predictors of 12-month outcomes in multiple regression analyses. Daily mood-drinking patterns demonstrated significant variability across persons, such that moderate drinkers could be reliably differentiated based on those patterns in terms of distinct drinking-related outcomes. Among the results, negative-mood-solitary-drinking slopes were associated with lower subsequent coping motives but positive-mood-solitary-drinking slopes were predictive of higher coping and lower social motives. Conversely, positive-mood-social-drinking associations were predictive of higher enhancement motives and brief Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test scores. Results are interpreted in light of motivational models of consumption.

Nursing intervention and investigation of drinking patterns in patients with alcoholic liver disease

Objective To investigate the alcohol dependence,influencing factors and related care in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD).Methods Totals of 42 patients with ALD as experimental group were evaluated by Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS),and 44 healthy volunteers were also tested as control group.The alcohol dependence,influencing factors of ALD patients were analyzed and corresponding care was taken.Results Compared with the control group,SSRS score of ADL patients was significantly lower [(35.71 ± 6.34) vs (42.23 ±7.63) ; t =4.250,P ＜ 0.01].And the ADL patients' MAST scores were significantly higher:≤3(1 case),≤5(2 cases),≤10(11 cases),＞ 10 (28 cases).The influencing factors of alcohol withdrawl of ALD patients were lacking of medical knowledge,poor self-control,lacking of social support systems,and family influence.Conclusions ALD patients usually with severe alcohol dependence and lower social support levels.So nurses should carry out individualized evaluation on the circumstances of each patients and take corresponding intervention. Key words: Liver diseases, alcoholic; Nursing; Alcohol dependence; Influencing factors

Disregulated Alcohol-Related Behavior Among College Drinkers: Associations With Protective Behaviors, Personality, and Drinking Motives

Objective: This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Disregulated Alcohol-Related Behaviors Inventory (DARBI), a measure of harmful alcohol-related behavior, and the relationship between protective behavior use and scores on the DARBI and several other measures. Participants: Participants were 281 undergraduate volunteers (60% female) enrolled in introductory psychology sections in Summer and Fall 2007. Methods: Participants completed the DARBI along with paper-and-pencil self-report measures of broad personality domains, trait resilience, protective behavior use, and drinking motivations and consequences. Results: The DARBI's internal consistency was good (alpha = .85). DARBI scores correlated negatively with conscientiousness scores but positively with neuroticism, the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST), Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI), and positive-reinforcement motives scores. The self-reported use of protective behaviors related negatively to DARBI, MAST, RAPI, and enhancement motives scores. Protective behavior use was unrelated to broad personality domains. Conclusions: The DARBI may prove a useful tool in campus interventions. Further research should determine the dispositional and situational determinants of protective behavior use.

Alexithymia and personality dimensions in relation to depression and anxiety in male alcohol-dependent inpatients

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of alexithymia and temperament and character model of personality with depression and anxiety symptoms in detoxified male alcohol-dependent inpatients. Method. The subjects consisted of 176 male alcohol-dependent inpatients according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition. Patients were investigated with the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Results. MAST score and scores of all three factors of the TAS-20 significantly predicted depression scale and anxiety scales. Difficulty in identifying feelings and difficulty in describing feelings factors were particularly effective, relative to the externally orientated thinking factor of the TAS-20 for prediction depression and anxiety. The TCI dimensions emerged as distinct and conceptually meaningful predictors for the depression scale and anxiety scales. Conclusion. Depression and anxiety symptoms among detoxified male alcohol dependents are associated with alexithymia, a broad range of personality dimensions and higher severity of alcohol-related problems, which make these related factors highly relevant for clinical practice.

Comparison of Alcohol-Dependent Patients with and without Physiological Dependence

Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of alcohol-dependent patients with or without physiological dependence (e.g. tolerance to alcohol or withdrawal) were compared. 186 consecutive alcohol-dependent patients hospitalized for alcohol detoxification were assessed. Diagnosis of alcohol dependence, tolerance and withdrawal was determined according to DSM-IV criteria. Assessment also included modalities of alcohol consumption and the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST). All patients presented alcohol dependence, 124 presented tolerance, 116 alcohol withdrawal and 146 (78.5%) tolerance and/or withdrawal. Patients with physiological dependence were older (51.4 vs. 46.9 years), drank more alcohol each day (20.3 vs. 11.3 drinks/day) and began alcohol consumption more often in the morning (67 vs. 37.5%). MAST scores were significantly higher in patients with physiological dependence (28.8 vs. 24.5), as was the mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes (108 vs. 83 fl). No difference was found in terms of age, marital status, rate of unemployment, level of education and psychiatric comorbidity between the patients with and without physiological dependence.

Work outcomes for female liver transplant recipients with alcohol-related liver disease.

The purpose of this retrospective survey was to describe post-liver transplant work outcomes for female liver transplant recipients with histories of alcohol-related liver disease. The theoretical framework guiding the study was Laffrey's conception of health. The Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test was used to measure alcohol-related liver disease. Forty-seven female liver transplant recipients whose Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test scores were indicative of alcohol-related liver disease comprised the convenience sample. Using a mailed questionnaire, post-transplant work and daily activities were assessed. Work was operationally defined as including either employment or household work. Results revealed that 59% of the female recipients were working post-transplant and that working recipients had higher conception of health scores than did non-working recipients.

Prediction of Recidivism in Incest Offenders

Approximately 6.5 years after their conviction, the percentage of incest offenders who had committed a sexual, violent, or criminal offense of any kind was 6.4, 12.4, and 26.7, respectively. The sexual recidivists scored higher on the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST), and the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). The violent recidivists had higher MAST and PCL-R scores as well as more violence in their police records. Regarding any criminal recidivism, recidivists were older and reported higher rates of being physically abused, and being removed from their homes prior to 16 years of age. They demonstrated more hostility on the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, and higher MAST and PCL-R scores. They also had more previous charges or convictions for sexual, violent, and criminal acts. A combination of total criminal offenses, PCL-R, age, and the number of previous sexual offenses correctly classified 97.6% of the nonrecidivists and 35.4% of the recidivists for any reoffense.

DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF ALCOHOL PROBLEMS

Approximately 14 million Americans suffer from alcohol abuse and dependen~e,’~ and drinking remains the most common cause of liver-related mortality in the United States. Forty-four percent of the 26,000 annual deaths from liver cirrhosis are attributed to alcohol use. Even this is likely to be an underestimate because certifying physicians may not be familiar with the decedent’s drinking history or may desire to protect the family from the stigma of a family member being an alcoholic.10 Alcoholic liver disease is also an important cause of morbidity. It has been estimated that between 15% and 30% of heavy drinkers develop advanced liver disease.I9 In 1990, cirrhosis was listed as a diagnosis on approximately 1% of discharges from nonfederal short-stay hospitals for those 15 years and older and was the principal diagnosis for 0.2% of the discharges. Underestimation of alcoholic liver disease on hospital discharge records may exceed that for death certificate^.^^ Because of the adverse effects of alcohol on the liver, alcoholdependent and alcohol-abusing patients commonly are seen in many hepatologists’ practices. Although findings on the physical examination and laboratory tests may provide clues, the diagnosis of alcoholism depends on the history provided by patients and their relatives. The two most commonly employed sets of criteria are the American Psychiatric Association‘s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, ed 4 (DSM-IV)’ and in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases, 10th rev (ICD-10).36 Both are based on symptoms of alcohol dependence and abuse rather than specific thresholds of drinking frequency, quantity, or patterns. The term alcoholism has been dropped in favor of two distinct categoriesalcokol abuse and alcohol dependence. Alcoholic liver

Behavioral and cognitive measurements predict scores on the MAST: a 3-year prospective study.

This experiment examined the ability of neuropsychological and behavioral tests of anterior brain functioning to predict changes in alcohol-related behaviors 3 years after the initial evaluation. One hundred four young adult subjects, sixty-six of whom had a positive family history of alcoholism, filled out the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), self-rated the frequency with which they consumed alcohol, and completed a retrospective test of childhood hyperactivity/impulsivity/conduct problems (Wender Behavioral Checklist). Eighty-three of the subjects also completed a neuropsychological battery consisting of cognitive tests of executive functioning (i.e., Trails, Categories Test, Similarities) and motor tests (i.e., TPT, hand dynamometer, finger tapping). Subjects returned to complete the alcohol-related measures during a second testing session 3 years later. Changes in MAST scores, and in alcohol consumption, between the first and second test session were computed, and median splits classified subjects into "high" versus "low" change groups. After factor analysis of the cognitive and behavioral data, hierarchical logistic regression equations assessed the ability of the cognitive and behavioral variables, as well as the presence of a positive family history of alcoholism, to predict future changes in the alcohol outcome measures. Scores from the WENDER behavioral checklist predicted future changes in the MAST scores (p = 0.0026), with more impaired scores associated with higher MAST scores. Tests of executive functioning, in subjects with a positive family history of alcoholism, predicted alcohol consumption (p = 0.033). None of the other predictor variables showed any relationship to the alcohol-related outcome measures.

Drinking problems of nursing students.

A sample of 315 nursing students in yearly cohorts (1988-1992) completed the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). A simple and quick instrument with established reliability and validity, the MAST had a reliability coefficient of .78 with this sample. The MAST scores of the nursing students indicated that 21.5% had probable alcoholism or were alcoholic. Drinking problems among these nursing students were similar to those of other nursing students and college students in general. Implications for nurse educators include recognition that nursing students need continuing self-assessment and monitoring to avoid drinking problems as a student and future practitioner. Alcoholism self-screening is an excellent introduction to client assessment for drinking problems. Implications for future research include identifying correlates and determinants of problem drinking behaviors and ultimately developing and testing educational interventions to eliminate the problem.

Panic disorder or social phobia: which is worse?

Twenty-eight patients with panic disorder (PD) and 30 with social phobia (SP) were compared on demographic and psychopathology measures. The demographic comparisons showed that, although people with SP were better educated, they were more likely to be single, living alone, and unemployed. The comparisons of psychopathology showed that the proportion of people with PD and SP with a life time major affective disorder did not differ, nor did the two groups differ on the proportion of Ss reporting past suicide attempts. However, a greater proportion of patients with SP had Brief Michigan Alcohol Screening Test scores above 5, indicating alcohol abuse problems. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Alcohol consumption among HIV-infected patients

This prospective, cohort study analyzed the prevalence of alcoholism and patterns of alcohol intake over time in a cohort of HIV-infected patients, predominantly homosexual/bisexual men. One hundred eleven HIV-positive subjects were recruited from a comprehensive HIV clinic associated with a large Midwestern university hospital. Each participant completed the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) survey and a standardized quantity-frequency questionnaire on alcohol intake at enrollment. The quantity-frequency scale was repeated every six months for a total of 30 months. Forty-five of the 111 subjects (41%) met the criteria for alcoholism, as defined by a MAST score 5 or higher. There was a significant decrease in alcohol consumption over time, from 6.4 drinks/week in the initial time period to 3.9 drinks/week by the final time period (p < 0.001).