The latent structure of alcohol use pathology in an epidemiological sample.
Whether alcohol use pathology is more accurately conceptualized as a categorical construct, or as existing along a dimension remains an open question. Previous investigations of the latent structure of alcohol use pathology have yielded mixed results. The present study used a sample (N = 43,093) drawn from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. A factor analysis of items drawn from the Alcohol Consumption, Alcohol Abuse/Dependence (Alcohol Experiences), and Alcohol Treatment Utilization sections of the NESARC yielded three factors, labeled Functional Disturbance, Tolerance, and Frequency, which were used as indicators in a series of taxometric analyses. These analyses converged on a low base rate alcohol pathology taxon. The relevance of these findings for the diagnosis, etiology, further research, and treatment of alcohol use disorders is discussed.
Green
Bradley A
BA
Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, #5025 Hattiesburg, MS 39406, United States. bradley.green@usm.edu
Ahmed
Anthony O
AO
Marcus
David K
DK
Walters
Glenn D
GD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054563:National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.) / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult