Diagnosing Addiction
The diagnosis of addiction caused controversy in previous editions of the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM). The newest edition has combined substance abuse and dependence into a new category, substance use disorder.
DSM-V was the first edition to include gambling addiction in the definition, as the behavior triggers similar reward circuits.
The diagnostic process
A GP will be able to diagnose and refer an individual showing signs of a substance use disorder.
The first step in diagnosis relies on a friend, family member, or the person with addiction themselves acknowledging a need for treatment.
This can often be the most difficult step and might sometimes involve a personal or group intervention if an individual with substance use disorder is not aware of the extent of the problem.
The person with suspected substance use disorder visits a family doctor or primary care physician, who may then refer them to an addiction or rehabilitation specialist.
The doctor will ask questions about frequency of use, impairment of daily living, and whether the use of a substance is increasing and how the pattern of use is impacting important social, occupational, educational or other functional areas.
They will also ask about withdrawal symptoms which may have occurred at times when the person attempted to decrease or stop use.
The doctor will complete a physical examination and run some blood work to assess overall health. This helps to determine if medical treatment is needed.
Criteria
The DSM-5 separates substance use disorder into nine different categories:
alcohol-related disorders
caffeine-related disorders
cannabis-related disorders
hallucinogen-Related Disorders
inhalant-related disorders
opioid-related disorders
sedative-, hypnotic-, or anxiolytic-related disorders
stimulant-related disorders
tobacco-related disorders
other, or unknown, substance-related disorders
non-substance-related disorders
DSM-V lists varying criteria for each of these categories, and many dependencies have different withdrawal symptoms that occur when an individual does not have access to the substance.
To receive a diagnosis of substance use disorder, a person must demonstrate two of the following criteria within a 12-month period:
regularly consuming larger amounts of a substance than intended or for a longer amount of time than planned
often attempting to or expressing a wish to moderate the intake of a substance without reducing consumption
spending long periods trying to get hold of a substance, use it, or recover from use
craving the substance, or expressing a strong desire to use it
failing to fulfill professional, educational, and family obligations
regularly using a substance in spite of any social, emotional, or personal issues it may be causing or making worse
giving up pastimes, passions, or social activities as a result of substance use
consuming the substance in places or situations that could cause physical injury
continuing to consume a substance despite being aware of any physical or psychological harm it is likely to have caused
increased tolerance, meaning that a person must consume more of the substance to achieve intoxication
withdrawal symptoms, or a physical response to not consuming the substance that is different for varying substances but might include sweating, shaking and nausea
The number of criteria a person demonstrates defines the severity of the dependence. If a person regularly fulfills two of three of these criteria, the DSM advises that they have mild substance use disorder.
A person with four or five of these criteria would have moderate substance use disorder. Six criteria would denote a severe addiction.
As new evidence emerges around addictive disorders, researchers attempt to determine whether or not they can develop reliable diagnostic criteria.
Some addictive disorders appear in the International Classification of Disease, Tenth Edition (ICD-10), such as sex addiction, which the ICD-10 classes under the category of “other sexual dysfunction not due to a substance or known physiological condition”.
The DSM-5, however, does not acknowledge sex addiction as a diagnosis.
One study from 2016 suggests that smartphone addiction is a developing condition and fits within the criteria of addiction.
The concept of video game addiction and the validity of the phenomenon as a diagnosable condition is currently controversial, as it involves the same brain circuitry as other addictions. In some parts of East Asia, clinics already exist to treat gaming addiction.
Content originally published by Medical News Today By Adam Feinman
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