Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test Scores Research Articles

Alcohol use and psychopathology in opioid addicts on methadone maintenance.

The occurrence of alcohol problems in opiate addicts on methadone maintenance presents a serious challenge for treatment. Dually addicted patients have a higher incidence of medical and psychiatric complications, consume large amounts of staff and treatment resources, and often exit treatment through administrative detoxification. Yet, little is known about differences in psychopathology between this group and other opioid addicts. This paper summarizes data for 166 male opioid addicts receiving methadone treatment. Alcohol problems were identified, and the relationship between dual addiction and psychopathology was explored. In the first phase of the study the MMPI and Brief MAST (Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test) were administered to 91 subjects. Comparison of Brief MAST scores with program counselors' judgments of the presence or absence of an alcohol problem showed a significant relationship. Cluster analysis of MMPI scores generated three groups. The clusters had significantly different mean MAST scores with the normal cluster having the least indication of alcohol problems, the neurotic cluster intermediate, and the schizoid cluster the greatest indication of problematic alcohol consumption. The second phase of the study with another 75 subjects replicated the relationship between cluster membership and MAST score. The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was also administered to these subjects, and high correlations between Brief MAST and ASI alcohol problem measures were found. Within-treatment outcome data on a number of measures were then collected for 1 year. Problem drinking severity was negatively related to employment status and positively related to number of random urinalyses indicating illicit drug use. Implication of these findings for refining treatment strategies are discussed.

Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test to diagnose early alcoholism in a general practice.

General medical patients can be easily screened for alcohol dependence on a routine basis. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) is a 24-item yes-no questionnaire concerning alcohol-related behavior. When it was included in the history self-administered to new patients in an internal medicine faculty-resident outpatient practice, it uncovered unsuspected alcohol dependence. The combined questionnaire (health history plus MAST) was given to 351 consecutive new outpatients. Thirteen (4%) were found to have positive MAST scores (greater than 7), indicating alcohol dependence. Nine patients were in the mild dependence range (7 to 20), two in the moderate range (20 to 30), and two in the severe range (30 to 53). All patients with significant MAST scores had complaints related to active drinking. The MAST score directed the physicians' therapeutic efforts in nine of 13 patients; in four the significant MAST score was ignored. The MAST is useful to detect unsuspected alcohol dependence in office practice. When used by faculty and residents trained in recognizing alcohol-related behavior, the test will properly direct therapeutic and rehabilitative efforts for those patients with the primary diagnosis of alcohol dependence.

Correlates of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) among DWI offenders.

Examined the relationship between scores on the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), Psychological Screening Inventory (PSI) and Locus of Control Scale (LOC) in a selected sample of 156 apprehended drunken drivers. About 90% were identified as problem drinkers on the MAST, and 15% were screened by the PSI as requiring more intensive psychological assessment. Scores on the MAST were independent of LOC, but positively related to results on PSI scales that assess antisocial acting-out and neurotic anxiety and also to general maladjustment (mean scale elevation). A weighted composite of three PSI scales was related significantly to MAST scores, but explained only a modest proportion of variance in them. The MAST and PSI can be used to supplement one another in screening DWI offenders.

Drinking problems of alcoholics: Correspondence between self and spouse reports

The present study examined the level of agreement between alcoholics and their wives on a variety of drinking-related behaviors. The self-report of alcoholics on the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) was compared with a parallel version completed by the wives concerning their husbands' behaviors. The couples evidenced a high level of agreement with respect to the Total MAST score as well as to the Helpseeking subscale. The Recognition of Alcohol Problems subscale manifested relatively lower levels of agreement. Alcoholics tended to under-report on this scale relative to their wives and maintain that they were normal drinkers.

Characteristics of Convicted Drunken Drivers

Demographic data were obtained from 310 persons (206 first and 104 repeat offenders 56 women) consecutively convicted in El Cajon, California of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Ages ranged from under 20 to over 60 and 93% were between 20 and 59 years old; 86% were Anglos, 10% Mexican Americans, 3% American Indians; 55% were married and 11% were single; 65% had 12 or more years of schooling; 85% were employed; all were enrolled in a course on drinking and driving as a condition of probation. Prior to being arrested, 52% of the 140 probationers who submitted narratives had been drinking at bars or pool halls and 22% at friends' homes, parties or picnics; 46% had been drinking beer, 16% mixed drinks, 14% beer and mixed drinks, 10% other combinations. Fatigue (21%), stress (17%) and concurrent use of other drugs (5%) were also involved. No attempt had been made to prevent 92% from driving. Denial or projection of guilt were noted in 31% of the narratives. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) was given to 269 of these (201 first and 68 repeat offenders, 35 and 5 women, respectively). Repeat offenders has significantly higher MAST scores (indicating likelihood of alcoholism) than first offenders; among first offenders, men had higher MAST scores than women (9.4 vs 5.9) but the proportion of men with scores indicating alcoholims (71%) was not significantly different from that of women (63%). There was no correlation between age and MAST scores. Blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) were obtained from 346 men and 78 women first offenders and from 131 men and 16 women repeat offenders. A significant difference between BACs of repeat offenders of both sexes and first offenders (mean 0.22 vs 0.19%) was found, but not between those of men and women. /Author/