Utility of Liver Function Tests for Screening "Alcohol Abusers" Who Are Not Severely Dependent On Alcohol

Author(s)

Linda C. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Sangeeta Agrawal, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Mark B. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1999

Publication Title

Substance Use and Misuse

Volume

34

Issue/Number

12

First Page

1723

ISSN

1082-6084

Last Page

1732

Abstract/Excerpt

This study evaluated the utility of using liver function tests to identify low dependence outpatient “alcohol abusers” (N = 253) and for evaluating changes in their drinking over the course of treatment. Despite drinking at levels considered to pose a health risk (i.e., drinking on 72% of all days in the year prior to treatment and averaging 6.3 drinks per drinking day), nearly two-thirds had normal liver function tests at treatment entry. It is concluded that for problem drinkers the cost of using liver function tests outweighs the benefits.

DOI

10.3109/10826089909039424

NSUWorks Citation

Sobell, L. C., Agrawal, S., Sobell, M. B. (1999). Utility of Liver Function Tests for Screening "Alcohol Abusers" Who Are Not Severely Dependent On Alcohol. Substance Use and Misuse, 34(12), 1723-1732.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/600