Functioning of Alcohol Use Disorders Criteria Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Implications for DSM-5

• Published in: Substance use & misuse Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 309 - 322
• Main Authors: Kuerbis, Alexis N., Hagman, Brett T., Sacco, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.03.2013; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alcohol Abuse; Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol related disorders; Alcohol use; alcohol use disorder; Alcohol-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Classification; Confirmatory factor analysis; diagnosis; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Discriminant analysis; Drug Abuse; Elderly; Female; Health; Health Surveys; Humans; item response theory; Male; Mental Illness; Middle age; Middle Aged; Middle Aged Adults; Middle aged people; older adults; Older people; Psychiatric disorders; United States; United States
• ISSN: 1082-6084; 1532-2491
• DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2012.762527

This study explored dimensionality and rank-order severity of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition (DSM-IV) alcohol use disorder (AUD) criteria among adults 50+ years old. Secondary analysis was performed on data from individuals 50+ (N = 3,412) from the 2009 National Survey of Drug Use and Health. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and item response theory (IRT) analyses were performed on the 11 AUD criteria. DSM-IV and DSM fifth edition (DSM-5) classifications were compared. CFA revealed a one-factor model. IRT analyses revealed that AUD criteria identify only severe cases of AUD. Overall, 5.8% met criteria for a DSM-IV AUD; 7.5% met criteria for DSM-5 AUD.