Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:1403-1408
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
Clinical implications of DSM-III diagnoses of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence
MA Schuckit, S Zisook and J Mortola
The authors explored the clinical significance of the DSM-III distinction
between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence by studying 403 male primary
alcoholics consecutively admitted to an inpatient alcohol treatment
program. On intake, 186 men met criteria for alcohol abuse and 217 met
criteria for alcohol dependence. The two groups were virtually identical
except that subjects with alcohol dependence took more drinks per drinking
day and had more alcohol-related medical problems and past
hospitalizations. During a 1-year follow-up, men with alcohol dependence
were more likely to have visited a public detoxification facility. The
results do not support prognostic implications for the differentiation
between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence in alcoholic inpatients.
