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A critical analysis of alcohol hangover research methodology for surveys or studies of effects on cognition

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Abstract

Rationale

Alcohol hangover may be defined as an adverse effect of heavy alcohol consumption present after sufficient time has elapsed for the alcohol to have been eliminated from the blood. Understanding how hangover may impair performance is important for public safety; yet, there is relatively little hangover research. This paper outlines good practice for future studies.

Objectives

This paper presents a critical analysis of hangover methodology for surveys or studies of effects on cognition with human subjects and provides suggestions for optimum research practice for laboratory-based and naturalistic alcohol hangover studies.

Results

Four hangover symptom scales have been developed and subjected to psychometric testing. For retrospective assessment, we recommend the Hangover Symptoms Scale (HSS) or the Alcohol Hangover Severity Scale (AHSS). For concurrent assessment of hangover symptoms, we recommend either the Acute Hangover Scale (AHS), the five-item version of the HSS, or the AHSS. In research aiming to assess the cognitive effects of alcohol hangover, we suggest focusing on the cognitive domains of attention, memory and executive function, and we specify a number of tests within these cognitive domains that are likely to be sensitive to any decrements due to hangover. Finally, we argue that naturalistic studies should assess biological markers to improve the accuracy of estimates of alcohol consumption. Specifically, we recommend the assessment of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) for this purpose.

Conclusions

Recommendations are made with respect to assessing hangover symptoms, cognitive effects of hangover and biological markers of alcohol consumption.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by EU 7th Framework Marie Curie Research Fellowship Project No: 301424.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Psychological Research, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK

    Richard Stephens, James A. Grange & Lauren Owen

  2. Health and Safety Laboratory, Derbyshire, UK

    Kate Jones

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  1. Richard Stephens
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  2. James A. Grange
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  3. Kate Jones
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  4. Lauren Owen
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Correspondence to Richard Stephens.

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Stephens, R., Grange, J.A., Jones, K. et al. A critical analysis of alcohol hangover research methodology for surveys or studies of effects on cognition. Psychopharmacology 231, 2223–2236 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3531-4

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