title: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) predicts alcohol withdrawal symptoms during inpatient detoxification.
abstract: We evaluated whether the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) predicted clinically meaningful alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in 118 alcohol dependent patients without a history of seizures. Patients were monitored by serial administration of the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment Scale for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar) during inpatient detoxification. Patients (N = 55) who reached threshold level of AWS for receiving medication (CIWA-Ar > 9) scored significantly higher (p <.001) on the AUDIT total score, the dependence sub-scale, and the single item on morning drinking. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive power, and screening efficiency showed the value of the AUDIT for identifying patients who developed AWS. The AUDIT should be explored alone and in combination with other parameters to improve screening for clinically meaningful AWS in other settings.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Addictions Treatment Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA. joe.reoux@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Reoux
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Malte
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kivlahan
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Saxon
mesh_terms: D020270:Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines