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Alcohol Dependence  American Description 

Diagnostic Criteria
Alcohol abuse: A destructive pattern of alcohol use, leading to significant social, occupational, or medical impairment. 
Must have three (or more) of the following, occurring when the alcohol use was at its worst: 
Alcohol tolerance: Either need for markedly increased amounts of alcohol to achieve intoxication, or markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of alcohol. 
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms: Either (a) or (b). 
(a) Two (or more) of the following, developing within several hours to a few days of reduction in heavy or prolonged alcohol use: 
sweating or rapid pulse 
increased hand tremor 
insomnia 
nausea or vomiting 
physical agitation 
anxiety 
transient visual, tactile, or auditory hallucinations or illusions 
grand mal seizures 
(b) Alcohol is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms. 
Alcohol was often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended 
Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol use 
Great deal of time spent in using alcohol, or recovering from hangovers 
Important social, occupational, or recreational activities given up or reduced because of alcohol use. 
Alcohol use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been worsened by alcohol (e.g., continued drinking despite knowing that an ulcer was made worse by drinking alcohol) 

Associated Features
Learning Problem 
Dysarthria/Involuntary Movement 
Depressed Mood 
Somatic/Sexual Dysfunction 
Addiction 
Sexually Deviant Behavior 
Dramatic/Erratic/Antisocial Personality 

Differential Diagnosis
Nonpathologic alcohol use for recreational or medical purposes; repeated episodes of Alcohol Intoxication. 

Internet Mental Health (www.mentalhealth.com) copyright © 1995-2000 by Phillip W. Long, M.D. 

 

 

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