title: A latent class analysis of DSM-IV alcohol use disorder criteria and binge drinking in undergraduates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescent and adult samples have shown that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) abuse and dependence criteria lie on a continuum of alcohol problem severity, but information on criteria functioning in college students is lacking. Prior factor analyses in a college sample (Beseler et al., 2010) indicated that a 2-factor solution fit the data better than a single-factor solution after a binge drinking criterion was included. The second dimension may indicate a clustering of criteria related to excessive alcohol use in this college sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was an analysis of data from an anonymous, online survey of undergraduates (N = 361) that included items pertaining to the DSM-IV alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnostic criteria and binge drinking. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to determine whether the criteria best fit a categorical model, with and without a binge drinking criterion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In an LCA including the AUD criteria only, a 3-class solution was the best fit. Binge drinking worsened the fit of the models. The largest class (class 1, n = 217) primarily endorsed tolerance (18.4%); none were alcohol dependent. The middle class (class 2, n = 114) endorsed primarily tolerance (81.6%) and drinking more than intended (74.6%); 34.2% met criteria for dependence. The smallest class (class 3, n = 30) endorsed all criteria with high probabilities (30 to 100%); all met criteria for dependence. Alcohol consumption patterns did not differ significantly between classes 2 and 3. Class 3 was characterized by higher levels on several variables thought to predict risk of alcohol-related problems (e.g., enhancement motives for drinking, impulsivity, and aggression).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two classes of heavy-drinking college students were identified, one of which appeared to be at higher risk than the other. The highest risk group may be less likely to "mature out" of high-risk drinking after college.
authors: Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA. cheryl.beseler@colostate.edu
authors: Cheryl L
authors: CL
authors: Beseler
authors: Laura A
authors: LA
authors: Taylor
authors: Deborah T
authors: DT
authors: Kraemer
authors: Robert F
authors: RF
authors: Leeman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol