title: The trauma questionnaire for detecting alcohol abuse: limiting factors.
abstract: The trauma questionnaire proposed as a brief and non-intimidating instrument to identify alcohol abuse was applied in a Brazilian group of 109 known alcoholics and 109 non-alcoholics. Although the sensitivity (66%) and specificity (81%) values found were similar to figures previously reported, it was found that sensitivity is influenced by the respondents socioeconomic background. The finding that the only direct item on drinking was the one that most contributed to the sensitivity of the test was discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001938:Brazil; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology*