Chunk #8 — A brief review of major methods used to evaluate alcohol reaction phenotypes — Examples of measures of alcohol reactions across different populations
Alcohol sensitivity can also be measured by retrospective questionnaires that record usual numbers of standard drinks required for various effects (e.g., Fleming et al., 2016; Schuckit et al., 1997, 2007, 2008). A higher number of drinks required across effects indicates a lower sensitivity per drink, and vice versa. The 12-item Self-Report of the Effects of alcohol (SRE) questionnaire asks the same four questions regarding drinks required to first feel any effect, slur speech, feel unsteady on your feet, and unwanted falling asleep for the first five times of drinking, the period of heaviest drinking, and recent 3-month drinking. The 15-item Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire (ASQ) includes items constructed to separately measure stimulation and sedation, asking participants if they ever experienced the effect and, if so, the minimum or maximum drinks associated with the item. The two retrospective measures compare favorably, and each generates scores relating to alcohol sensitivity (Fleming et. al., 2016). The SRE value has been adjusted for sex, age, weight, and/or the number of effects experienced, but the raw score without adjustments appears to work well. Note that, in contrast to alcohol challenges, these questionnaires ask participants to consider alcohol’s overall effects across several hours.
