Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ)
Alcohol Urge Questionnaire · Also known as: AUQ
The AUQ is an 8-item self-report instrument that measures the intensity of urges and desire to drink alcohol. Developed by Bohn, Krahn, and Staehler in 1995, it is designed to assess craving in individuals with alcohol use disorder who are abstaining or attempting to reduce drinking. The AUQ is a brief, validated tool useful in alcohol treatment and research settings to predict relapse risk and monitor treatment progress.
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When to use it
The AUQ is appropriate for use during alcohol treatment in individuals with alcohol use disorder to monitor craving intensity and guide treatment decisions. It is useful in residential and intensive outpatient treatment, as well as in outpatient counseling and medication-assisted treatment settings. The AUQ can be administered at multiple time points (e.g., weekly) to track craving changes. It is less suitable for one-time screening of populations; use AUDIT or SADQ for that purpose.
Strengths & limitations
- Brief, validated 8-item instrument measuring alcohol craving with strong predictive validity for drinking relapse
- Simple scoring requiring minimal training; can be administered and interpreted in most clinical settings
- Responsive to treatment changes; craving typically decreases as treatment progresses
- Applicable across alcohol treatment contexts including inpatient, outpatient, and medication-assisted treatment
- Strong temporal association with drinking lapse, enabling early intervention during periods of heightened relapse risk
- Measures craving only; does not assess other important relapse determinants (coping skills, social support, mood)
- Alcohol urges are dynamic and context-dependent; point-in-time AUQ scores may not capture fluctuations across situations
- Depends on self-report and may be subject to impression management or minimization in some contexts
- Predictive validity is moderate-to-strong but not perfect; some individuals with high urges do not relapse
Frequently asked
What does an AUQ score of 40 mean?
An AUQ score of 40 or above indicates strong drinking urges. This score predicts elevated relapse risk and warrants therapeutic response, such as coping strategy review, medication adjustment, or increased session frequency. It is not inevitable that you will relapse; many individuals manage high urges successfully.
How often should I complete the AUQ?
Frequency depends on treatment intensity and relapse risk. Early treatment (first 2–4 weeks) may use weekly assessment; stable recovery may use monthly assessment. Use more frequent assessment during high-risk periods (anniversaries, triggers, stressful events).
Can rising AUQ scores predict a relapse?
Rising AUQ scores are an early warning sign of increased relapse risk and typically precede a relapse by days to weeks. If your scores are rising, discuss with your clinician immediately about coping strategies, medication changes, or other interventions. Early action can prevent relapse.
What if I have high AUQ scores but don't relapse?
High craving does not guarantee relapse. Individuals vary in their ability to manage urges. Effective coping skills, strong social support, medications (naltrexone, etc.), and cognitive strategies can help you abstain despite high urges. Understanding your personal triggers and coping strengths is important.
How is the AUQ different from the QSU-Brief?
Both measure craving intensity, but AUQ is specific to alcohol while QSU-Brief measures smoking craving (though it can be adapted for other substances). AUQ uses 7-point Likert scales; QSU-Brief typically uses visual analog or 4-point scales. Both are brief and validated for relapse prediction.
Can the AUQ predict long-term recovery?
AUQ predicts short-to-medium term relapse risk (weeks to a few months). Long-term recovery depends on multiple factors beyond craving (coping skills, social support, life satisfaction, psychiatric treatment). Use AUQ as one source of information among many.
Sources
- Bohn, M. J., Krahn, D. D., & Staehler, B. A. (1995). Development and initial validation of a measure of drinking urges in abstinent men. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 56(2), 168–173. link ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Alcohol Urge Questionnaire. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/addiction-medicine/alcohol-urge-questionnaire
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
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- QSU-BriefAddiction Medicine↔ compare
- RCQAddiction Medicine↔ compare
- SADQAddiction Medicine↔ compare