Issues in the definition and diagnosis of alcoholism: Implications for a reformulation

doi:10.1016/0278-5846(86)90065-5

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry

Volume 10, Issue 2, 1986, Pages 113-128

https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-5846(86)90065-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

1.
1.This paper examines definitions of alcoholism from theoretical and historical points of view.
2.
2.It begins with a review of definitions of alcoholism from the 19th century to the present, giving particular attention to medical approaches, psychiatric formulations, behavioral concepts, and definitions proposed by the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization.
3.
3.It is concluded that current definitions differ widely in scope, the meanings attached to words like disease and disorder, the criteria for including signs and symptoms as essential characteristics, and the potential uses of the definitions.
4.
4.Based on these considerations, the practical issues of developing and applying clinically useful diagnostic procedures are discussed.
5.
5.The paper concludes with a discussion of diagnostic Issues that should be considered in any effort to Improve clinical identification, treatment planning and international communication.

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Issues in the definition and diagnosis of alcoholism: Implications for a reformulation

Abstract

Drug Alcohol Depend

Manual on Alcoholism

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

The Classification of Psychopathology

The disease concept of alcoholism

J Psychiatr Treat & Eval

Alcohol addiction and its treatment

Q J Stud Alc

Criteria for the diagnosis of alcoholism

Ann Intern Med

Nomenclature and classification of drug- and alcohol-related problems: a WHO memorandum

Bull WHO

Diagnostic criteria for use in psychiatric research

Arch Gen Psychiatry

Alcoholism: a disease

Studies of familial alcoholism: a review

J Clin Psychiatry

Criminality and psychiatric disorders

Arch Gen Psychiatry

Psychiatric illness and crime with particular reference to alcoholism; a study of 223 criminals

J Nerv Ment Dis

English translation from the German by E.M. Jellinek: Magnus Huss' Alcoholismus Chronicus

Q J Stud Alcohol

The Alcoholisms: detection. Diagnosis and Assessment

Detection, assessment, and diagnosis of alcoholism: current techniques

Reform in American medical science: the inebriety movement and the origins of the psychological disease theory of addiction, 1870–1920

Br J Addict

Alcoholism, a genus and some of its species

Can Med Assoc J

The Disease Concept of Alcoholism

On defining alcoholism: with comment on some other relevant words