What We Talk About When We Talk About Binge Drinking: Towards an Integrated Conceptualization and Evaluation

Abstract

Rationale Binge drinking (BD), characterized by recurring alternations between intense intoxication episodes and abstinence periods, is the most frequent alcohol consumption pattern in youth and is growing in prevalence among older adults. Many studies have underlined the specific harmful impact of this habit by showing impaired abilities in a wide range of cognitive functions among binge drinkers, as well as modifications of brain structure and function. Aims Several controversies and inconsistencies currently hamper the harmonious development of the field and the recognition of BD as a specific alcohol consumption pattern. The main concern is the absence of consensual BD conceptualization, leading to variability in experimental group selection and alcohol consumption evaluation. The present paper aims at overcoming this key issue through a two-step approach. Methods and conclusions First, a literature review allows proposing an integrated BD conceptualization, distinguishing it from other subclinical alcohol consumption patterns. Six specific characteristics of BD are identified, namely, (1) the presence of physiological symptoms related to BD episodes, (2) the presence of psychological symptoms related to BD episodes, (3) the ratio of BD episodes compared to all alcohol drinking occasions, (4) the frequency of BD episodes, (5) the consumption speed and (6) the alternation between BD episodes and soberness periods. Second, capitalizing on this conceptual clarification, we propose an evaluation protocol jointly measuring these six BD characteristics. Finally, several research perspectives are presented to refine the proposed conceptualization.

Understanding the Influence of Eating Patterns on Binge Drinking: A Mediation Model

“…In the present study, binge drinking was measured with two indicators commonly used in the literature: frequency of consumption of high alcohol doses from the AUDIT-3, and the presence of a binge drinking episode in the past. Both indicators showed an adequate factorial saturation indicating that they worked well as measures of binge drinking, and this result is consistent with the literature [60,62]. Although this is the most common measure used, the research still does not have a standardized measure for binge drinking, and future studies are needed in this field to create a comprehensive and standardized measure.…”

“…Finally, the dependent variable in the model was binge drinking. This variable was measured with the main tools to assess binge drinking: item 3 from the AUDIT scale [60] ("How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion? "), ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (daily or almost daily); and an indicator of binge drinking ("Considering all types of alcoholic beverages, did you ever have five or more drinks (four if you are female) in a two-hour period (one time) in the past month?…”

What really matters in binge drinking: A dominance analysis of binge drinking psychological determinants among University students

“…This score, unlike the more classical measurement “drinks in a row” focusing only on the quantity of alcohol consumed, considers both quantity and frequency of consumption. It hence integrates repeated withdrawal from alcohol and is of high interest to focus on the specific pattern of drinking that is BD ( Townshend & Duka, 2005 ; for a review on different possible measures of BD, see Maurage et al, 2020 ).…”

Why should we ask binge drinkers if they smoke cannabis? Additive effect of alcohol and cannabis use on college students’ neuropsychological performance

“…This score therefore considers consumption quantity and frequency. Repeated withdrawal from alcohol, an aspect that is missing from classic BD measures (see Maurage et al, 2020 , for a review of different possible measures of BD), was also considered. Cannabis use was assessed using the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST; Legleye et al, 2011 ).…”