Similarly, among females in each age group, tolerance and time spent have relatively lower item thresholds, and withdrawal, larger amounts, cut down, and legal problems have relatively higher item thresholds. Among 18–25 and 26 and older age groups, the most severe symptom criterion as defined by the item threshold is legal problems; however, it would take higher AUD severity for the 12–17 age group to endorse cut down than to endorse legal problems. The least severe symptom criterion as defined by item threshold is time spent for 18–25 and 26 and older age groups; however, drinkers with very low severity in the 12–17 age group are more likely to endorse tolerance than time spent. Although both tolerance and time spent are the two least severe criteria, time spent has much better discrimination than tolerance, especially among adolescents and young adults. This applies to females as well as to males. As with males, the IRCs are less varied for females ages 26 years and older than the younger age groups. The IRCs for females in this age group are so close
