Validation of the Cross-Cultural Alcoholism Screening Test (CCAST)

Background. When screening instruments that are used in the assessment and diagnosis of alcoholism of individuals from different ethnicities, some cul tural variables based on norms and societal acceptance of drinking behavior can play an important role in determining the outcome. The accepted diagno stic criteria of current market testing are based on Western standards. Methods. In this study, the Munich Alcoholism Test (31 items) was the base instrument applied to subjects from several Hispanic-American countries (Bo livia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru), After the sample was submitted to several statistical procedures, these 31 items were reduced to a culture-f ree, 31-item test named the Cross-Cultural Alcohol Screening Test (CCAST). Results. The results of this Hispanic-American sample (n = 2,107) empirical ly demonstrated that CCAST measures alcoholism with an adequate degree of a ccuracy when compared to other available cross-cultural tests. Conclusions. CCAST is useful in the diagnosis of alcoholism in Spanish-spea king immigrants living in countries where English is spoken, CCAST can be u sed in general hospitals, psychiatric wards, emergency services and police stations. The test can be useful for other professionals, such as psycholog ical consultants, researchers, and those conducting expertise appraisal. (C ) 1999 IMSS, Published by Elsevier Science Inc.