. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Aug 1.

Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013 May 28;10(8):487–494. doi: 10.1038/nrgastro.2013.86

Table 1. Criteria for alcohol use disorders.

Criteria	DSM-IV		DSM‐5: alcohol use disorder (two or more or the criteria)^‡
Criteria	Alcohol abuse (one of more of the criteria)	Alcohol dependence (three or more of the criteria during 1 year)	DSM‐5: alcohol use disorder (two or more or the criteria)^‡
Failure to meet major role obligations	Included	NA	Retained
Recurrent hazardous use	Included	NA	Retained
Recurrent alcohol-related legal problems	Included	NA	Omitted
Continued use despite recurrent social problems	Included	NA	Retained
Tolerance	NA	Included	Retained
Alcohol withdrawal (or drinking and/or taking drugs to avoid withdrawal)	NA	Included	Retained
Drinking more than intended	NA	Included	Retained
Unsuccessful attempts to cut down on use	NA	Included	Retained
Excessive time related to alcohol (obtaining, hangover)	NA	Included	Retained
Impaired social or work activities due to alcohol	NA	Included	Retained
Use despite known physical or psychological consequences	NA	Included	Retained
Alcohol craving	NA	Omitted	Included

DSM‐IV is hierarchical: if an individual meets criteria for alcohol dependence that diagnosis is given; abuse is only diagnosed if the individual does not meet criteria for dependence. Abbreviation: NA, not applicable. DSM-5 is subdivided into moderate (2 or 3 criteria) and severe (4 or more criteria) AUD.