The MAST is a 24-item instrument designed to identify alcohol abuse and dependence. It has adequate sensitivity and specificity at a cut-off score of 13 in identifying both of these disorders, but is very long, taking at least 10 minutes. The SMAST, a shorter 13-item version of the MAST, has also demonstrated good reliability as a self-administered questionnaire. However there is little recent published research on these instruments. The Brief Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (b-MAST) has been validated against AUDIT, found significantly correlated, and proved effective in measuring severity of problem drinking in a treatment-seeking population (Connor et al. 2007). The MAST and its shorter versions have been criticised for their lack of sensitivity in detecting alcohol problems among women (Dawe et al 2002).

For more information see The treatment of alcohol problems: a review of the evidence, chapter 3

• Copy of MAST questionnaire
• Copy of short questionnaire SMAST
• Copy of Brief Michigan Alcohol Screening Test questionnaire b-MAST

See also, screening