Assessing current alcohol use with the FORM 90 in a student sample.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Addiction Medicine
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are prevalent, particularly in males.
• The FORM 90 is a calendar-based instrument developed to assess alcohol use.
• Previous validation of FORM 90 was limited to clinical samples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity of the FORM 90 in a non-clinical student sample.
• To compare the FORM 90's results with a global assessment using the CIDI.
• To identify differences in drinking patterns among students with and without alcohol-related disorders.

Main Methods:

• 120 male students were interviewed using the CIDI (Composite International Diagnostic Interview).
• Participants were categorized into alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, or no disorder groups.
• The FORM 90 and CIDI were administered by independent interviewers.

Main Results:

• Global and calendar-based assessments showed comparable overall results but differed in estimated alcohol consumption days.
• The FORM 90 revealed stable alcohol consumption patterns in individuals with alcohol dependence.
• Less stable drinking patterns were observed in abusers and those without a history of alcohol-related problems.

Conclusions:

• The FORM 90 effectively identifies distinct drinking patterns in non-clinically treated individuals with alcohol abuse and dependence.
• The study supports the validity of the FORM 90 for assessing alcohol use in student populations.
• This instrument can facilitate research on drinking patterns and their correlates in various populations.