Does familial risk for alcohol use disorder predict alcohol hangover?

The Relationship Between Alcohol Hangover Frequency and Hangover Severity

Objective: Tolerance to the acute effects of alcohol, i.e., feeling less intoxicated after consuming the same amount of alcohol, has been reported for individuals who regularly consume alcohol. In this study, it was investigated whether such tolerance also exists for experiencing the alcohol hangover. Methods: Data from five studies that assessed hangover frequency and hangover severity were combined (n = 924). Partial correlations were computed between hangover frequency and hangover severity, with age, sex, and weekly alcohol consumption as possible confounders. Results: A significant and positive correlation was found between hangover frequency and hangover severity (r = 0.692, p < 0.001). After correcting for sex, age, and weekly alcohol consumption, the partial correlation remained significant (r = 0.526, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The observed positive association between hangover frequency and hangover severity suggests a reverse tolerance: if hangovers are experienced more frequently, they are more severe.

Pain Catastrophising Predicts Alcohol Hangover Severity and Symptoms

Alcohol hangover is a cause of considerable social and economic burden. Identification of predictors of alcohol hangover severity have the potential to contribute to reductions in costs associated with both absenteeism/presenteeism and health care. Pain catastrophising (PC) is the tendency to ruminate and describe a pain experience in more exaggerated terms. The current study examines the possibility that this cognitive coping strategy may influence experience of alcohol hangover. The aims of the current study were to (1) examine the relationship between hangover severity and PC, (2) explore and identify discreet factors within the Acute Hangover Scale (AHS) and (3) explore whether independent factors/dimensions of acute hangover are differentially predicted by PC. A retrospective survey (n = 86) was conducted in which participants completed the Acute Hangover Scale (AHS); the Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS); a questionnaire pertaining to the amount of alcohol consumed; and a demographic information questionnaire. Regression analyses showed a significant relationship between PC and hangover severity scores and demonstrated that PC was, in fact, a stronger predictor of perceived hangover severity than estimated peak blood alcohol concentrations (eBACs). Factor analysis of the AHS scale, resulted in the identification of two distinct symptom dimensions; ‘Headache and thirst’, and ‘Gastric and cardiovascular’ symptoms. Regression analyses showed that both eBAC and PCS score were significantly associated with ‘Headache and thirst’. However, only PCS score was associated with ‘Gastric and cardiovascular’ symptoms. These novel findings implicate a role for cognitive coping strategies in self-reports of alcohol hangover severity, and may have implications for understanding behavioural response to hangover, as well as suggesting that hangover and PC may be important factors mediating the motivation to drink and/or abuse alcohol, with potential implications in addiction research. Furthermore, these findings suggest that distinct alcohol hangover symptoms may be associated with different mechanisms underlying the experience of alcohol hangover.

The effects of alcohol hangover on future drinking behavior and the development of alcohol problems

INTRODUCTION

Alcohol hangover experiences in young adulthood have been shown to predict more subsequent alcohol problems. Hangover susceptibility appears to be partially heritable and related to family history of alcohol use disorders. However, very little is known about the developmental course of these associations and whether they are accounted for by an individual's drinking history. The goal of this study is to investigate the prospective and unique relationships between family history of alcohol use disorders, severity of alcohol hangover experiences in adolescence, and later alcohol use and related problems measured over 13years.

METHODS

Participants were first assessed on family history at age 12-14, prior to initiating drinking, and re-assessed annually on hangover severity, drinks per drinking day (DPDD), and alcohol-related problems throughout the 13-year follow-up period (n=205; 59% male).

RESULTS

In mixed effects negative binomial regression models, greater family history density scores predicted more future DPDD (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR]=1.19, p=0.04), alcohol problems (IRR=1.64, p=0.05), and future hangover severity (IRR=1.24; p=0.01). In turn, greater hangover severity predicted more future DPDD (IRR=1.03; p=0.002) and alcohol problems (IRR=1.12, p<0.001), and hangover severity mediated the relationship between family history and alcohol use/problems. All models controlled for participant age, sex, and past drinking behavior (where relevant).

CONCLUSIONS

These results advance the alcohol hangover experience during late adolescence as a clinically relevant and uniquely informative marker of future alcohol use and problems, above and beyond that of prior personal or familial drinking history.