BACKGROUND: Interest in subthreshold psychiatric disorders has increased recently. Diagnostic orphans experience one to two criteria of alcohol dependence but do not meet the diagnostic criteria for a DSM-IV alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study investigated the impact of subthreshold alcohol symptoms on three domains: physical illness, drinking patterns, and the occurrence of negative life events. METHOD: Current drinkers (n=26,946) in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) were divided into five diagnosis groups: no-AUD; one-criterion orphans (reference group), two-criterion orphans, alcohol abuse, and alcohol dependence. Exploratory factor analysis examined the factor structure of items in the Alcohol Use Disorders and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule (AUDADIS-IV) relating to each life domains. Factors were related to the diagnosis groups and background covariates using latent variable modeling. RESULTS: One-criterion orphans did not differ from the other groups with regards to physical illness. One- and two-criterion orphans differed significantly in relation to drinking patterns, with the latter group engaging in hazardous drinking behaviours more frequently. The dependence group were more likely to experience higher estimates of social problems compared to one-criterion orphans. One-criterion orphans were more likely than the abuse group to experience financial problems but less likely than the dependence group to experience family-related legal problems. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic orphans were more impaired than those with no-AUD or alcohol abuse in specific life domains; however, diagnostic orphans were significantly less impaired than those with alcohol dependence. Diagnostic orphans may be an important group for early case identification and intervention.
BACKGROUND: Interest in subthreshold psychiatric disorders has increased recently. Diagnostic orphans experience one to two criteria of alcohol dependence but do not meet the diagnostic criteria for a DSM-IV alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study investigated the impact of subthreshold alcohol symptoms on three domains: physical illness, drinking patterns, and the occurrence of negative life events. METHOD: Current drinkers (n=26,946) in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) were divided into five diagnosis groups: no-AUD; one-criterion orphans (reference group), two-criterion orphans, alcohol abuse, and alcohol dependence. Exploratory factor analysis examined the factor structure of items in the Alcohol Use Disorders and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule (AUDADIS-IV) relating to each life domains. Factors were related to the diagnosis groups and background covariates using latent variable modeling. RESULTS: One-criterion orphans did not differ from the other groups with regards to physical illness. One- and two-criterion orphans differed significantly in relation to drinking patterns, with the latter group engaging in hazardous drinking behaviours more frequently. The dependence group were more likely to experience higher estimates of social problems compared to one-criterion orphans. One-criterion orphans were more likely than the abuse group to experience financial problems but less likely than the dependence group to experience family-related legal problems. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic orphans were more impaired than those with no-AUD or alcohol abuse in specific life domains; however, diagnostic orphans were significantly less impaired than those with alcohol dependence. Diagnostic orphans may be an important group for early case identification and intervention.
Authors: Risë B Goldstein; S Patricia Chou; Sharon M Smith; Jeesun Jung; Haitao Zhang; Tulshi D Saha; Roger P Pickering; W June Ruan; Boji Huang; Bridget F Grant Journal: J Stud Alcohol Drugs Date: 2015-05 Impact factor: 2.582
Authors: João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia; Camila M Silveira; Erica R Siu; Yuan-Pang Wang; Igor A Milhorança; Clóvis Alexandrino-Silva; Guilherme Borges; Maria C Viana; Arthur G Andrade; Laura H Andrade; Silvia S Martins Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2014-01-03 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Deborah S Hasin; Charles P O'Brien; Marc Auriacombe; Guilherme Borges; Kathleen Bucholz; Alan Budney; Wilson M Compton; Thomas Crowley; Walter Ling; Nancy M Petry; Marc Schuckit; Bridget F Grant Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2013-08 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Eric A Dedert; Jennifer R McDuffie; Roy Stein; J Murray McNiel; Andrzej S Kosinski; Caroline E Freiermuth; Adam Hemminger; John W Williams Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2015-08-04 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Lubomir Straka; Pavol Zubor; Frantisek Novomesky; Frantisek Stuller; Jozef Krajcovic; Karol Kajo; Jan Danko Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2011-12-14 Impact factor: 3.295