Citation

Yoshimura A, Komoto Y, Higuchi S. Alcohol Alcohol. 2014; 49(Suppl 1): i49.

Affiliation

National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/alcalc/agu053.58

PMID

25221210

Abstract

We registered 193 alcohol-dependent patients who visited our hospital. The six ICD-10 criteria items for alcohol dependence were checked at the time of the first visit in each case. The correlations of the checked items among the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria were then examined statistically. Furthermore, we investigated the relation between each criteria item and biochemical blood markers. Three diagnostic items in the ICD-10, (A) strong desire, (B) difficulties in controlling alcohol intake, and (E) progressive neglect of alternative pleasures or interests, were strongly correlated with each other and were thought to form the core symptoms of alcohol dependence. Two major diagnostic items, (C) physiological withdrawal state, and (D) evidence of tolerance, were not as strongly related to the former three items and seemed to be derivatives of the core symptoms. Conventional biochemical markers, such as γ-GT and MCV, which indicate a large quantity of drinking, were not associated with the ICD-10 diagnostic items. Three diagnostic items in the ICD-10, (A), (B), and E), were strongly related to each other and were considered to be the core symptoms of alcohol dependence. The core symptoms might be adapted for other forms of substance-use dependence and behavioral addiction.

Language: en