Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST): A Review
Introduction
Alcoholism is a serious public health issue that affects millions of people throughout the world. It is associated with a range of physical and psychological health problems, including increased risk of accidents, poorer work performance, and decreased quality of life (Schuckit, 2009). To accurately diagnose and treat alcohol use disorders, clinicians must be able to identify people who are at risk for developing alcohol-related problems. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) is one of the most widely used assessment tools for identifying individuals with problematic drinking behaviors. This article reviews the psychometric properties of the MAST and its clinical utility.
History and Development
The MAST was developed in 1972 by Selzer (1972) as a quick screening instrument for the identification of individuals with potential problem drinking behaviors. The MAST was designed to be administered in a clinical setting and consists of 25 yes/no questions that assess problem drinking behaviors, drinking problems, and alcohol-related consequences (Selzer, 1971). The MAST has been used in numerous studies and has been found to be a reliable and valid measure of problem drinking (Schuckit, 2009).
Psychometric Properties
The MAST has been found to have good internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.86 (Selzer, 1971). It has also been found to have good test-retest reliability, with a correlation of 0.71 (Selzer, 1971). The MAST has also been found to have good convergent validity, with a correlation of 0.78 with the CAGE questionnaire (Selzer, 1971).
Clinical Utility
The MAST has been found to be a useful screening tool for identifying individuals at risk for developing alcohol-related problems (Schuckit, 2009). It is relatively quick and easy to administer, and can be completed in a clinical setting in about 10 minutes. The MAST has also been found to be effective in identifying individuals with problem drinking behaviors in community settings (Selzer, 1971).
Conclusion
The MAST is a reliable and valid screening tool for identifying individuals at risk for problem drinking behaviors. It is relatively quick and easy to administer, and can be used in both clinical and community settings.
References
Schuckit, M. A. (2009). Alcoholism. In S. R. Hockenberry & D. Wilson (Eds.), Wong’s Nursing Care of Infants and Children (9th ed., pp. 918-931). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
Selzer, M. L. (1971). The Michigan alcoholism screening test: The quest for a new diagnostic instrument. American Journal of Psychiatry, 127(12), 1653–1658. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.127.12.1653