An unordered categorical measure was created to represent three groups; (A) those who did not meet criteria for DSM5 AUD during their lifetime; (B) individuals who had a lifetime history of DSM-5 AUD and were current problematic drinkers due to an active AUD diagnosis in the past 12 months or were high-risk drinkers (defined as men: >= 5 drinks/day or >= 15 drinks in one week; women: >= 4 drinks/day or >= 8 in one week (NIAAA, 2004); and (C) those who had a lifetime history of AUD but had reduced/ceased their drinking and either did not report any AUD criteria (except craving), or were not high-risk drinkers, or were abstinent from alcohol, all in the past 12 months (McCutcheon et al., 2017; Schuckit et al., 2018). A comparison of Group A against either Group B or C contrasts presence or absence of a lifetime diagnosis of DSM-5 AUD, while the comparison of Group B and Group C stratifies those with a lifetime diagnosis into high risk drinkers, including those with active AUD, and low risk drinkers who may also be in abstinent remission.
