Evidence-based assessment/Instruments/Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a ten-question test developed by a World Health Organization-sponsored collaborative project to determine if a person may be at risk for alcohol abuse problems. The test was designed to be used internationally, and was validated in a study drawing patients from six countries. Several research studies have found that the AUDIT screening tool is a reliable and valid measure in identifying alcohol abuse problem behaviors. There is some evidence that the AUDIT works in adolescents and young adults; it appears less accurate in older adults. It appears well-suited for use with college students, and also with women and members of minority groups. The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C) is a 3-question screening test for problem drinking used frequently in primary care settings.

Scoring and interpretation
Scoring the AUDIT is based on a 0-4 point scale. Six of the ten questions ask about the frequency of certain alcohol abuse behaviors and are scored by the following responses: The other four questions vary in participant response choice but are scored on a 0-4 point scale.
 * 0 points: "Never"
 * 1 point: "Less than monthly"
 * 2 points: "Monthly"
 * 3 points: "Weekly"
 * 4 points: "Daily, or almost daily"

Item breakdown
The questions measure different domains of alcohol consumption problems. The breakdown is as follows:
 * 1-3: Measure frequency in alcohol consumption
 * 4-6: Measure alcohol dependence
 * 7-10: Measure alcohol related problems

Interpretation of scores
In order to score the AUDIT, point values of each answer choice are summed together and then interpreted based on the following criteria.
 * A score of 8 or more in men (7 in women) indicates a strong likelihood of hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption.
 * A score of 20 or more is suggestive of alcohol dependence (although some authors quote scores of more than 13 in women and 15 in men as indicating likely dependence).