Alcohol-Induced Hangover Symptom Survey of Wiese et al

 

Hangover symptoms:

(1) nausea

(2) headache

(3) anorexia

(4) dry mouth

(5) soreness

(6) weakness

(7) tremulousness

(8) diarrhea

(9) dizziness

 

Symptom Severity	Points
absent	0
mild	1
moderate	2
moderate to severe	3
severe	4
very severe	5
worst imaginable	6

 

where:

• The authors only listed the terms anchoring the 7-point Likert scale (points 0 and 6). I supplied the terms for the intermediate states (2 to 5). I initially used minimal for 1 point and mild for 2 points; however, the description of a severe hangover (see below) required a mean symptom score of 2.

 

total score =

= SUM(points for all 9 symptoms)

 

The number of symptoms for a given level of severity can also be recorded.

 

Interpretation:

• minimum total score: 0

• maximum total score: 54

• A severe hangover was defined a priori as a total score >= 18, which was the level of symptomatology that prevented the person from attending work or school the next day.