title: Examination of the latent factor structure of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test in two independent trauma patient groups using confirmatory factor analysis.
abstract: Recent research on the factor structure of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) provides support for two underlying factors: consumption and consequences. The current study sought to extend these findings to two independent and diverse trauma populations: traumatic injury patients and military veterans treated for posttraumatic stress disorder. The 2- and 3-factor solutions provided the best fit to the data, but there was a very high correlation between the second and third factors of the 3-factor solution. Parsimony suggests that the 2-factor solution is the preferred model. The 2-factor model has implications for alcohol screening using the AUDIT and supports the goal of screening to identify those with hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorders. An algorithm is proposed to inform alcohol screening protocols in a range of health settings for trauma-exposed patient groups.
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. dwade@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Darryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varker
authors.forename: Meaghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Forbes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000465:Algorithms; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult