title: Validation of the revised Self-Administered Alcohol Screening Test (SAAST-R).
abstract: This study examined the sensitivity and specificity of the revised Self-Administered Alcohol Screening Test (SAAST-R)1 among adult outpatients evaluated at community addictions and psychiatry and psychology clinics. A total of 417 adults (mean +/- SD age of 41.4 +/- 15.0 years, 52% female, 91% Caucasian) completed the 36-item SAAST-R prior to their evaluation. Based on the clinician's documentation of the patient's alcohol use, two criterion groups were established: one composed of subjects classified as having no alcohol problems (n = 214), and one with alcohol problems (n = 203). The SAAST-R was found to have high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96), sensitivity (90%), and specificity (82%) for differentiating outpatients with and without alcohol problems, respectively, using a cut point of >or=4 to indicate risk for alcohol-related problems. The SAAST-R was found to have good sensitivity and specificity among both males and females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. patten.christi@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Christi A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.forename: Kristin S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.forename: Kenneth P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Offord
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Colligan
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bronars
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Reese
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Seime
authors.forename: Daniel K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hall-Flavin
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hurt
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires