Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): An updated systematic review of psychometric properties.

Abstract

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is an instrument used to screen for alcohol-related problems. It has been increasingly used in many different countries in both the original English-language version and its many translated versions. Because of the need for screening instruments of faster administration, shortened versions of the AUDIT have also been developed. This study was aimed at expanding the work by Berner and colleagues (2007) in an attempt to answer some remaining questions as well as to identify and evaluate studies on the validation of modified versions of the AUDIT, which have not been previously analyzed. In order to do so, we identified indexed articles published between 2002 and 2009 related to the psychometric qualities of the AUDIT by matching the keywords: alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and AUDIT. We found 47 articles that evaluated the AUDIT in different countries and in diverse health and community contexts, involving adolescent, adult, and elderly samples. The studies confirmed the validity and efficiency of the AUDIT in the identification of harmful use, abuse, and dependence of alcohol, both in the original version and in modified ones. The possibility of using brief and efficient versions is of great value, since certain health contexts demand faster assessment. The results also showed that the reduced versions have satisfactory psychometric qualities, sometimes with sensitivity values higher than those of the AUDIT itself. The studies analyzed confirm the efficiency of the AUDIT both in its original, reduced, and language-adapted versions in different contexts and cultures.

Adult ADHD: Associations with Personality and Other Psychopathology

“…The AUDIT has been used widely since its publication (over 5000 citations according to Google Scholar), with research indicating that it provides valid and efficient assessment of alcohol use and shows good sensitivity and specificity as a screen for alcohol use disorder (de Meneses-Gaya et al 2009). We assessed use of other illicit substances using the Drug Use Survey (DUS; Clark and Watson 1999), a 10-item self-report measure assessing the occurrence and frequency of use for a range of substances (e.g., marijuana, stimulants, psychedelics, narcotics) on a 7-point scale ranging from never to 40 times or more.…”

Epidemiology of symptoms of common mental disorders among elite Gaelic athletes: a prospective cohort study

“…[26]. The AUDIT-C has been validated in English (test-retest coefficients: 0.6 -0.9; criterion-related validity: sensitivity 0.826, specificity 0.813, Area Under ROC Curve 0.70 -0.97) [26,27]. A total score ranging from 0 to 12 was obtained by summing up the answers on the three items, a score of 5 or more indicating the presence of adverse alcohol use [26].…”

Relationship between Alcohol Use Disorder and Cognitive Reappraisal Among Youth Seeking Help in Rehabilitation Centers in Kiambu County, Kenya

“…This instrument that was developed by WHO and tested on participants drawn from six countries, among them, Kenya, has been found to be an effective trans-cultural screening tool for screening for alcohol use and dependency among participants in health care settings (WHO, 2004). Further studies have psychometrically proven that AUDIT is a sound instrument for detecting alcohol abuse among adolescents, college students, young adults, women, and individuals drawn from minority groups not only in health care contexts but also in community settings (Meneses-Gaya et al, 2009). …”