Title:Development of a Definition for the Alcohol Hangover: Consumer Descriptions and Expert Consensus
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
Author(s): Marith van Schrojenstein Lantman, Aurora JAE van de Loo, Marlou Mackus and Joris C. Verster*
Affiliation:
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht,Netherlands
Keywords:
Alcohol, hangover, definition, development, consensus, consumer.
Abstract: Up to now, there is no adequate definition of the alcohol hangover. The purpose of the
current study was to develop a useful definition, and consensus among those who will use it in scientific
publications. A survey was conducted among N=1099 social drinkers who recently had a
hangover. They were asked to provide their definition of the alcohol hangover. Text mining and content
analysis revealed 3 potential definitions. These were submitted to members of the Alcohol
Hangover Research Group, who were asked to give their expert opinion on the proposed definitions.
Taking into account their comments and suggestions, the following definition for the alcohol hangover
was formulated: “The alcohol hangover refers to the combination of mental and physical symptoms,
experienced the day after a single episode of heavy drinking, starting when blood alcohol concentration
approaches zero.”
