title: The Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire: Evidence for Construct Validity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Variability in sensitivity to the acute effects of alcohol is an important risk factor for the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). The most commonly used retrospective self-report measure of sensitivity, the Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol (SRE) form, queries a limited number of alcohol effects and relies on respondents' ability to recall experiences that might have occurred in the distant past. Here, we investigated the construct validity of an alternative measure that queries a larger number of alcohol effects, the Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire (ASQ), and compared it to the SRE in predicting momentary subjective responses to an acute dose of alcohol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy young adults (N = 423) completed the SRE and the ASQ and then were randomly assigned to consume either alcohol or a placebo beverage (between-subjects manipulation). Stimulation and sedation (Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale) and subjective intoxication were measured multiple times after drinking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hierarchical linear models showed that the ASQ reliably predicted each of these outcomes following alcohol but not placebo consumption, provided unique prediction beyond that associated with differences in recent alcohol involvement, and was preferred over the SRE (in terms of model fit) in direct model comparisons of stimulation and sedation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ASQ compared favorably with the better-known SRE in predicting increased stimulation and reduced sedation following an acute alcohol challenge. The ASQ appears to be a valid self-report measure of alcohol sensitivity and therefore holds promise for identifying individuals at-risk for AUD and related problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Bartholow
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hilgard
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: Denis M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steinley
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Alcohol Challenge; Alcohol Sensitivity; Level of Response; Model Comparison; Subjective Alcohol Effects