Drinking problem: a hidden problem in general practice.
A cross-sectional study of 320 general practice patients was undertaken to find the prevalence of problems drinkers and the ability of the SMAST and CAGE in detecting the problem. The problem drinkers were diagnosed by psychiatric interview in 7.5 per cent of all 320 patients. The reliability of the SMAST and CAGE was tested by a test-retest method and the repeatability indicies were substantial. The comcurrent validity of the SMAST and CAGE was tested by comparing them with the psychiatric diagnosis as a gold standard. The sensitivity and the specificity of the SMAST at the cut off > or = 3 which best discriminated subjects were 68 per cent and 77.8 per cent respectively. The CAGE had low sensitivity and specificity.
Assanangkornchai
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkhla University Thailand.
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires