Substance use: AUDIT screening: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Substance use: AUDIT screening

Sample item

A 40-year-old man scores 12 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT, range 0 to 40). He has no features of dependence. What is the appropriate response?

ALow-risk drinking; no action is neededBHazardous drinking; give simple advice and a brief interventionCHarmful use requiring inpatient detoxificationDProbable dependence; refer for specialist evaluation

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Hazardous drinking; give simple advice and a brief intervention

AUDIT scores of 0 to 7 indicate low-risk drinking and 8 to 15 hazardous drinking, which is managed with simple advice. Scores of 16 to 19 call for brief counselling and monitoring, and 20 or more suggest dependence needing diagnostic evaluation and specialist referral.

Option by option

A. Low-risk drinking; no action is needed
Low-risk use corresponds to scores below 8.
B. Hazardous drinking; give simple advice and a brief intervention (correct)
Correct. A score of 12 falls in the 8 to 15 band for hazardous use.
C. Harmful use requiring inpatient detoxification
Inpatient detoxification is for withdrawal risk in dependence, not for a score of 12.
D. Probable dependence; refer for specialist evaluation
Referral for dependence is indicated at scores of 20 or more.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is B, Hazardous drinking; give simple advice and a brief intervention. AUDIT scores of 0 to 7 indicate low-risk drinking and 8 to 15 hazardous drinking, which is managed with simple advice.

Why is "Low-risk drinking; no action is needed" not the answer?

Low-risk use corresponds to scores below 8.

Why is "Harmful use requiring inpatient detoxification" not the answer?

Inpatient detoxification is for withdrawal risk in dependence, not for a score of 12.

Why is "Probable dependence; refer for specialist evaluation" not the answer?

Referral for dependence is indicated at scores of 20 or more.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: AUDIT screening in PSM. Scores of 16 to 19 call for brief counselling and monitoring, and 20 or more suggest dependence needing diagnostic evaluation and specialist referral.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Substance use: AUDIT screening?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.