The association between severity of DSM-III-R alcohol dependence and medical and social consequences.

This paper describes the relationship between severity of dependence and medical and social consequences in a clinical sample. Respondents constitute a sample of 219 men and 162 women interviewed in nine alcohol programs in a Northern California county. Results suggest that the number of dependence indicators reported by respondents is a valid indicator of severity of alcohol dependence, and that there is a positive relationship between the number of indicators and the number of medical and social consequences reported by respondents. When specific medical and social consequences are examined, an analysis restricted to men only, the number of dependence indicators is associated with stomach, heart and liver problems, DTs, hallucinations, public drunkenness, family arguments and serious accidents, but it is not associated with drunk driving arrests and job problems.