Diagnosis of alcoholism. the Munich Alcoholism test (MALT)
Feuerlein, W.; Ringer, C.; Küfner, H.; Antons, K.
Münchener Medizinische Wochenschrift 119(40): 1275-1282
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-3098 PMID: 412057 Document Number: 122345
From the extensive literature on alcoholism 250 relevant diagnostic items were selected and tested for their selectivity in 3 independent inquiries among 1335 patients (661 of them alcoholic), both outpatients and inpatients. The outcome is a two-part test: a section of 7 questions answered by the doctor and a self-assessment section comprising 24 questions answered by the patient. Its validity (validity of the whole test r=0.85) and reliability (reliability of the self-assessment section r=0.94) are high. A diagnosis of alcoholism made according to the usual clinical aspects was confirmed in 90% of 675 unselected medical, surgical and psychiatric patients and alcoholism was suspected in a further 8%.