May 17, 2011 (Honolulu, Hawaii) — The prevalence of alcohol use disorders will increase substantially if proposed revisions to diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence contained in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), are adopted, a new study suggests.
"Our analyses show that the proposed changes would lead to about a 60% increase in the diagnosis of alcohol use disorders in Australia, from 6.0% to 9.7%," Louise Mewton, from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center, University of New South Wales in Sydney, told Medscape Medical News.
Presented here at the American Psychiatric Association 2011 Annual Meeting, the study showed the number of people meeting criteria for alcohol use disorder proposed revisions to the APA's DSM-IV would likely increase in other countries as well. Whether this would be helpful or not is not known. "Our analyses cannot be used to determine whether this increase is 'good or bad,' Ms. Mewton emphasized.
The study was also published in the journal Addiction.
![]() |
Dr. Louise Mewton |
Third, criterion of alcohol-related legal problems, contained in DSM-IV, is not in DSM-5.
60% Increase in Cases, Implications Unclear
"DSM-5 criteria were all indicators of a single underlying disorder," they report.
The study authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Medscape Medical News © 2011 WebMD, LLC
Send comments and news tips to news@medscape.net.
Cite this: Number of 'Problem' Drinkers to Increase Under DSM-5 - Medscape - May 17, 2011.
Comments