Limitations of lifetime alcohol use disorder assessments: A criterion-validation study. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haeny, Angela M.; Littlefield, Andrew K.; Sher, Kenneth J.
• Is Part Of: Addictive behaviors. Volume 59(2016)
• Page Start: 95
• Page End: 99
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Lifetime alcohol use disorder -- Reliability -- Validity -- Prospective assessment; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction -- Periodicals; Smoking -- Periodicals; Gambling -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.29
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.03.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4603

Abstract

Abstract: The goal of the present study was to compare etiologically and clinically relevant correlates of lifetime AUD (e.g., alcohol consumption, personality traits, psychiatric disorders) based on a single assessment compared to a cumulative, prospective assessment of lifetime AUD. Data were drawn from the Alcohol, Health and Behavior (AHB; baseline N = 489) study, which consisted of a prospective cohort of college students assessed seven times over a 16-year period ([ M ( SD ) age at baseline = 18.56 (.97)] and [ M ( SD ) age at final assessment = 34.33 (.82)]). The participants were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) for DSM-III at Waves 1–7 and for DSM-IV at Waves 6–7. A single assessment and cumulative assessments of DSM-III lifetime AUD at Wave 6 ( M [ SD ] age = 28.98 [1.03]) were used to predict past-year alcohol related variables (e.g., alcohol consumption, drinking motives, drinking expectancies), personality variables, general functioning, lifetime substance use, and lifetime psychiatric disorders at Wave 7. Significantly larger correlations were found between the cumulative assessment and eight of the 25 etiologically relevant correlates of AUD compared to the single assessment. Further, significant incremental validity of cumulative assessment over single, retrospective assessment was observed for 16 of the 25 covariates. Overall, this study provides further support for the value of using prospective data with multiple assessments when determining lifetime history of disorder. Highlights: Lifetime AUD assessed at a single wave vs. multiple, sequential waves was compared. The relation between AUD and etiologically-relevant correlates of AUD were examined. Correlations were attenuated when AUD was assessed at a single wave. Evidence for incremental validity was found when synthesizing multiple assessments. Longitudinal researchers should assess lifetime AUD fully at each assessment period.