Michigan Alcohol Screening Test
A classic screening tool that assesses alcohol dependence with 25 items.
In one minute
How it works in 3 steps
- You respond: You mark the items about your alcohol use.
- A total is produced: Your answers turn into a total score.
- It is interpreted: The result is evaluated in the context of your pattern of use.
Who it informs
When professional support helps
What does the MAST measure?
The test looks together at the effects of alcohol on health, relationships, work and daily life. In this way it gives a sense of whether a pattern of use has become risky rather than focusing only on how much is consumed.
Higher results suggest that reviewing your use and talking with a specialist may be helpful. This is not an accusation but a starting point for getting support.
How is it scored?
Items are marked and summed; a score above certain thresholds points to an increased likelihood of risky or problematic use.
- Items
- 25
- Score range
- 0–53
- Administration
- Self / observer report
What do the score bands mean?
The ranges below are a general frame. No band makes a diagnosis on its own; a result only becomes meaningful when a clinical psychologist interprets it alongside your life story.
| Score | General interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0–3 | No alcohol problem |
| 4–5 | Possible alcohol problem |
| 6–53 | Alcohol dependence |
Limitation: It is a screening tool and a scale never makes a diagnosis on its own. The result should be evaluated by a specialist together with your history of use and life context.
Psychometrics and source
Its internal consistency is reported as high in the literature (Cronbach's alpha usually above .80); it is a widely used, well-known screening tool.
Original source: Selzer, M.L. (1971). MAST.
How is this scale used at Mete Psikoloji?
At Mete Psikoloji, when working with addiction, screening tools like this are used to understand the pattern of use and to shape the support plan. Your scores are recorded and followed in your personal portal; clients seen online complete their scales there, and clients seen in person are followed in the same portal. Your clinical psychologist interprets the result together with you.
Related reading
Did your result give you pause?
A scale is only a starting point. By planning an assessment session with our clinical psychologists, you can consider your result alongside the context of your life.