AIMS: This commentary critically evaluates the use of substance-related negative psychosocial and health consequences to define and diagnose alcohol and other substance use disorders. METHODS: Narrative review. RESULTS: The consequences of substance use cause much suffering and are major public health and economic problems. However, there are a number of conceptual and measurement problems with using consequences as diagnostic criteria for substance disorders. Data indicate that substance-related consequences introduce systematic bias and degrade the validity of diagnostic systems. CONCLUSIONS: Negative psychosocial and health consequences of substance use should play a fundamentally reduced role in modern diagnostic systems for, and definitions of, addictive disorders.
AIMS: This commentary critically evaluates the use of substance-related negative psychosocial and health consequences to define and diagnose alcohol and other substance use disorders. METHODS: Narrative review. RESULTS: The consequences of substance use cause much suffering and are major public health and economic problems. However, there are a number of conceptual and measurement problems with using consequences as diagnostic criteria for substance disorders. Data indicate that substance-related consequences introduce systematic bias and degrade the validity of diagnostic systems. CONCLUSIONS: Negative psychosocial and health consequences of substance use should play a fundamentally reduced role in modern diagnostic systems for, and definitions of, addictive disorders.
Authors: J Rehm; S Marmet; P Anderson; A Gual; L Kraus; D J Nutt; R Room; A V Samokhvalov; E Scafato; M Trapencieris; R W Wiers; G Gmel Journal: Alcohol Alcohol Date: 2013-08-07 Impact factor: 2.826
Authors: Jordan E Stevens; Douglas Steinley; Yoanna E McDowell; Cassandra L Boness; Timothy J Trull; Christopher S Martin; Kenneth J Sher Journal: Addict Behav Date: 2019-02-05 Impact factor: 3.913