Alcohol Use Disorders: Translational Utility of DSM-IV Liabilities to the DSM-5 System.
OBJECTIVE
Young adults have some of the highest rates of problem drinking and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) relative to any other age. However, recent evidence suggests that the DSM-IV hierarchical classification system of AUDs does not validly represent symptoms in the population; instead, it evinces a unitary, dimensional classification scheme. The DSM-5 has been altered to fit this changing, evidence-based conceptualization. Nevertheless, little is understood about the degree to which known risk factors for DSM-IV AUD diagnoses will transfer to the new DSM-5 guidelines in this group of high-risk drinkers. The current study built a coherent model of liabilities for DSM-IV AUDs in young adults and tested for transferability to DSM-5.


METHODS
N = 496 college students (51.10% male) were assessed on a variety of factors related to AUD risk, including demographics, substance use (past 90-days), and drinking motives. Liability models were created using all variables in Structural Equation Modeling to test direct and indirect effects on DSM diagnostic status. The best model under the DSM-IV was chosen based on fit and parsimony. This model was then applied to the DSM-5 system to test for transferability.


RESULTS
The best the fitting model for DSM-IV included direct influences of drug use, quantity-frequency of alcohol consumption, and social and coping drinking motives. Improved model fit was found when the DSM-5 system was the outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of risk factors for AUDs appear to transfer well to the new diagnostic system.
University of South Florida Psychology Department.
Andrew M
AM
Kiselica
Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies, American Legacy Foundation.
Amy M
AM
Cohn
Division of Treatment and Recovery Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Brett T
BT
Hagman
Alcohol Use Disorders; DSM-5; DSM-IV; Drinking; Risk Factors