Reliability and validity of estimators of alcoholism prevalence.

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Abstract
Responses of 2762 [human] adults to a survey conducted in Washington County, Maryland [USA], were subjected to correlational and factor analysis to measure the validity and reliability of 4 estimators of the prevalence of alcoholism, including a version of the Mulford Index of Uncontrolled Drinking, a quantity-frequency scale, the Reasons for Drinking scale used by Cahalan in their study of American drinking practices and a 2-item loss-of-control measure. A subscale of 5 of the questions in the Reasons for Drinking scale was the most reliable and most valid of the indicators examined. Although all estimators have internal consistency, the validity of the Index of Uncontrolled Drinking is questionable because of multidimensionality, 4 items'' lack of statistical significance and low commonalities.

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