Determination of alcoholism or alcohol dependency syndrome in a given population requires a reliable questionnaire plus anamnestic and biological parameters. The authors have used the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) on a sample of 150 subjects over a three month period to detect alcoholism in a psychiatric versus a non-psychiatric population. They discuss the importance of a family type of alcoholism and conclude that a good percentage of primary alcoholics may present themselves with psychiatric features or seek psychiatric help.
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