13 March 2015
Researchers:
David R. Foxcroft, Lesley Smith, Hayley Thomas and Sarah Howcutt
Oxford Brookes University
Key findings
- The AUDIT screening test was accurate for the assessment of hazardous drinking, DSM-IV alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence, and DSM-V alcohol use disorders in the study sample. The AUDIT-C screening test had a similar accuracy profile to full AUDIT for the identification of hazardous drinking.
- The optimal cut-points for identifying hazardous drinking using AUDIT scores were 9 (men) and 4 (women).
- The optimal cut-points for identifying DSM-IV alcohol abuse were 10 (men) and 5 (women)
- The optimal cut-points for identifying DSM-IV alcohol dependence were 12 (men) and 7 (women)
- The optimal cut-points for identifying DSM-5 alcohol use disorders were 10 (men) and 6 (women)
- In all cases lower cut-points improved sensitivity (i.e. were more likely to capture all drinkers in the relevant categories), while higher cut-points improved specificity (i.e. were less likely to lead to ‘false positives’)
- Following AUDIT screening, GPs could use web-based programmes to calculate probabilities and use these in feedback and dialogue with patients, rather than relying on fixed cut-points to identify risk.
