PSYCHIATRIC-DIAGNOSIS OF ADDICTION, INCLU DING METHODS OF DETECTING EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION

Aims of diagnosing addiction comprise the assessment of the dependence syndrome including development severity and negative consequences in particular patients, of comorbidity and relapse events when patients a re referred for treatment, Data of our own studies indicate that the d ependence syndrome develops earlier and more pronounced in opiate addi cts compared to alcoholics. In female alcoholics the addictive process starts 4-7 years later than in males which is supposed to be mainly d ue to psychosocial factors that incriminate excessive drinking of fema les in the public domain. Compared to pure alcoholics antisocial perso nality trails have some accelerating, anxious and depressive symptoms some decelerating effects on the progression of alcoholism Diagnostic efforts of the clinician can be supported by determining CDT in serum that is a useful indicator of heavy alcohol consumption ard - as recen tly shown by own data - of relapse.