From the Guidelines
The accepted term for alcoholism is Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). This term has replaced older terminology like "alcoholism" or "alcohol dependence" in medical and clinical settings, as evident from the DSM-V criteria 1. Alcohol Use Disorder is defined as a problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, with specific criteria including drinking more than intended, unsuccessful attempts to cut down, spending significant time obtaining or recovering from alcohol, and experiencing cravings 1. The severity of AUD is classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on the number of criteria met, ranging from 2-3 criteria for mild, 4-5 criteria for moderate, and 6 or more criteria for severe AUD 1.
Some key points to consider when diagnosing AUD include:
- A persistent desire or unsuccessful effort to cut down or control alcohol use
- Recurrent alcohol use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home
- Continued alcohol use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance
- Tolerance, as defined by either a need for markedly increased amounts of alcohol to achieve intoxication or desired effect, or markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance 1
- Withdrawal, as manifested by either the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for alcohol or the same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms 1
The use of AUD as the accepted term reflects our improved understanding that problematic alcohol use exists on a spectrum of severity rather than as a binary condition, and acknowledges the complex biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to the disorder 1.
From the Research
Definition of Alcoholism
The accepted term for alcoholism is now referred to as Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) [ 2 ].
Key Characteristics
- AUD is a concerning health issue worldwide, leading to 2.5 million deaths annually [ 2 ]
- It is characterized by harmful alcohol use, which can be managed through various treatment options [ 2 ]
- The term "alcoholism" is still used in some studies, but AUD is the preferred term [ 3 ]
Treatment Options
- Several medications are approved for the treatment of AUD, including disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate [ 4, 5 ]
- Other medications, such as anticonvulsants and antidepressants, may also be beneficial in reducing heavy alcohol use [ 5 ]
- The effectiveness of these medications can vary, and further research is needed to determine the best treatment options for AUD [ 6 ]