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Consistency of hangover experiences after a night of drinking: A controlled laboratory study
Author(s) -
Delang Nathan,
Iudakhina Elizaveta,
Irwin Christopher,
Desbrow Ben
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.2771
Subject(s) - cognition , psychology , reliability (semiconductor) , clinical trial , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , audiology , medicine , psychiatry , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
Objective Research into cognitive performance during a hangover has produced equivocal findings. This study investigated the reliability of inducing hangover symptoms and effects on cognitive performance (including applied tasks) under standardised conditions. Method Twenty‐one participants (13 M; 24 ± 3 years) completed two identical trials, involving alcohol consumption and an overnight laboratory stay. Outcome measures included: hangover severity (a single‐item ‘Hangover’ rating, and a sum of hangover symptoms [Overall Symptoms Score (OSS)]), cognitive function (trail making test), simulated driving (standard deviation of lateral position; lane crossings), and typing performance. Spearman's correlations were used to assess reliability between trials for all participants, and when ratings of ‘Hangover’ were consistent. Results Participants demonstrated reliable ‘Hangover’ rating change from baseline (Trial A: 2.0 [2.0]; Trial B: 2.0 [2.0], rho = 0.680, p = 0.001), but not for OSS (Trial A: 8.0 [12.0]; Trial B: 5.0 [9.0], rho = 0.309, p = 0.173). Performance in cognitive/applied tasks (range rho = 0.447–0771) was consistent, except simulated driving (range rho = 0.035–0.272), however the impairment was trivial. The subgroup analysis did not reveal substantial changes in reliability. Conclusion A single ‘Hangover’ rating was a reliable way of determining ‘mild’ to ‘moderate’ hangover severity. The present data could be used to assist the methodological design of future hangover research.