Article at a Glance:
- The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) is a questionnaire that can help you assess whether you have a drinking problem.
- The MAST quiz asks 25 yes-or-no questions related to past drinking and alcohol-related incidents.
- Each response is awarded a certain number of points, which are tallied up at the end to give you a MAST score.
- MAST scores of zero to three are considered non-problematic, four is considered early or mid alcohol addiction and five or more is considered severe addiction.
- MAST can be used as a screening tool that helps open up communication about starting treatment
Table of Contents
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What Is an Alcohol Assessment?
Alcohol assessments are brief questionnaires that help you or your medical provider determine whether you have problematic drinking patterns. Anyone can take an alcohol assessment, and doing so is a good idea if you have been concerned about your drinking. What starts out as casual drinking can sometimes turn into dependence and heavy use, so assessments can be a helpful way to stay vigilant about your drinking patterns.
There are many user-friendly alcohol assessments available, including:
- MAST (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test)
- AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test)
- CAGE (Cut, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener)
What Is the MAST Alcohol Assessment?
The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test, often called the MAST alcohol test, is a questionnaire that assesses the presence and severity of drinking problems. It’s one of the oldest and most widely used tools for detecting alcohol abuse, and there have been many variations developed since its inception. The following version consists of 25 yes-or-no questions.
History of the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test
The MAST alcohol assessment quiz was initially developed as a 25-question test that could be used by the general population. It can be self-administered or taken in an interview format with a qualified interviewer. Since it was first created in 1971, it has been successful in identifying dependent drinkers with up to 98% accuracy.
Other variations of the MAST screening test include:
- UMAST: A simpler version of the 25-question assessment with unit scoring
- BMAST: A shorter, 10-question version with weighted scoring
- SMAST: A shorter, 13-questions version with unit scoring
The condensed versions were created to provide a fast but accurate method for detecting alcohol-related concerns. Assessments with unit scoring also offer quicker, simplified results.
Alcohol Assessment Questions
Unlike other alcohol evaluations, the MAST assessment focuses primarily on past drinking and alcohol-related incidents, and it does not specify a certain time frame. It includes only a few questions about current alcohol habits and potential signs of addiction. This makes it less reliable in detecting early signs of alcohol use disorder.
Since the MAST includes more questions than similar tests, it provides several benefits that shorter assessments cannot. Longer assessments allow for more open communication between a patient and the professional providing the test. This can give the professional a greater opportunity to determine the type of help their patient may need. The questions can also help uncover societal, occupational and family issues related to excessive alcohol use.
MAST Alcohol Test Scoring
All of the MAST alcohol screening tests are scored on a point scale system. Each response has a value attached to it. Scores of zero to three indicate no apparent drinking problem. A score of four suggests an early to mid-range drinking problem. Finally, scores of five or higher point to more severe alcohol dependence.
Keep in mind that the results of the MAST alcohol screening test — or any alcohol quiz — are not intended as an official diagnosis. An official alcohol use disorder diagnosis can only be made by a licensed professional.
What Can Alcohol Addiction Lead to?
If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol use, know that you do not need to face it alone. The Recovery Village provides a full continuum of care that is able to treat a wide range of addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders. Contact us today to learn more about treatment programs that can work well for your needs.
- Sources
- MDApp. “Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST).” August 28, 2017. Accessed September 10, 2021.
- Laux, J.M., Newman, I., Brown, R. “The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST): A Psychometric Investigation.” Education Resources Information Center, October 2002. Accessed September 10, 2021.
- Moussas, G., Dadouti, G., Douzenis, A., Poulis, E., Tzelembis, A., et al. “The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): reliability and validity of the Greek version.” Annals of General Psychiatry, May 2009. Accessed September 10, 2021.
- Williams, Nerys. “The CAGE questionnaire.” Occupational Medicine, August 18, 2014. Accessed September 10, 2021.
- Gordon, A.J., Fiellen, D.A., et al. “Selective Methods Used in Alcohol Research: Screening in Primary Care–Methods and Approaches.” Comprehensive Handbook of Alcohol Related Pathology, 2005. Accessed September 10, 2021.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Appendix D: Examples of Screening and Assessment Tools for Substance Use Disorders.” (n.d.). Accessed September 10, 2021.
- Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. “Background.” (n.d.). Accessed September 17, 2021.
- Ross, H.E., et al. “Diagnostic validity of the MAST and the alcohol dependence scale in the assessment of DSM-III alcohol disorders.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, November 1990. Accessed September 10, 2021.
- Psychology Testing Online. “Michigan Alcohol Screening Test, MAST.” (n.d.). Accessed September 10, 2021.
- Medical Disclaimer
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
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