People face ailments of all sorts. They range from the obvious physical problems to diseases of the mind along with various other troubling conditions. One of the most pernicious - largely because it is self-induced and frequently difficult to acknowledge - is alcoholism.

There are numerous tools used to identify symptoms of alcoholism. Most are self-directed questionnaires designed to be answered by the individual in the hope of identifying possible alcohol abuse.

There are five major tests used by addiction counselors and alcohol abuse programs. These include the CAGE questionnaire, the Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire, the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Paddington Alcohol Test. To learn more about each one, keep reading.

The CAGE

The CAGE Questionnaire is an acronym based on the four simple questions that it uses. It is a popular test because it’s simple and often takes seconds to administer. To identify or diagnose addiction, a respondent must answer “yes” to two of the following questions. Have you ever thought you should cut down on drinking? Have your family and friends ever addressed or criticized your drinking? Do you feel guilty about your drinking? Do you ever need a drink to start your day or to alleviate a hangover?

If an individual answers in the affirmative to any two of these four questions, then he or she may be diagnosed with alcoholism. It is specifically designed for identifying alcoholism symptoms.

The Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire

The Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire is slightly more comprehensive than the CAGE Questionnaire and tries to differentiate between heavy alcohol use and actual dependence on alcohol.

The questionnaire is comprised of 15 questions and rates respondents on a scale of 0 to 45. A score of 1 to 9 indicates low dependence, 10 to 19 denotes medium dependence, and any score higher than 20 suggests high dependence. It is used predominantly in Europe.

The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test

The MAST is a popular testing system that’s most often used by the legal system. It’s typically administered to test whether an individual has an alcohol problem before they are sentenced, charged or convicted of an alcohol-related offense.

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test was first developed by the World Health Organization. It is administered all over the world and is the official test in six countries.

AUDIT is comprised of ten simple questions. The first group of questions deals with alcohol consumption levels, the next focuses on alcohol dependence and the remaining group covers alcohol related issues or problems.

The Paddington Alcohol Test

The Paddington Alcohol Test was first developed as a way to screen those in emergency, accident and health services for potential alcohol abuse problems. Essentially, it is typically administered to a patient in the ER to identify hazardous drinking and underlying causes.

These five tests are each intended to determine a respondent’s level of dependence on alcohol and associated alcoholism symptoms. Each has been validated, is used in the field and is designed for a particular purpose.