THE DEFINITION OF ALCOHOLISM

Formulations of alcohol dependence are continuously refreshed, in line with changing concepts and altered needs. Two new descriptions have b een prepared: the revised WHO criteria for substance use disorders and an educative definition of alcoholism. The major sets of diagnostic c riteria provided by WHO and by the American Psychiatric Association ar e moving closer together but have not solved all the semantic problems . More refined assessments are also available to quicken fulfilment of the long-awaited hope that treatments can be matched to patients.