How is hangover diagnosed?

There currently is no objective assessment or biomarker that can be used to reliably “diagnose” hangover or to determine the severity of hangover symptoms. Thus, the diagnosis of hangover relies on the subjective reporting of symptoms. Three commonly-used hangover symptom scales include the Hangover Symptom Scale (HSS), the Acute Hangover Scale (AHS), and the Alcohol Hangover Severity Scale (AHSS). Each scale asks participants to rate the presence or absence of a variety of hangover symptoms, along with their severity (typically on a 0–10 scale).^[1]

Alternatively, research has suggested that a 1-item score — rating hangover from absent (0) to extreme (10) — may be more effective for accurately “diagnosing” and assessing the severity of hangover by encompassing all of the individual symptoms experienced by the drinker and their perceived impact on daily activities, mood, and function.^[1]