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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Diagnosing alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be tricky\u00A0since the diagnosis depends on the drinker being willing to honestly answer a series of questions about his or her drinking patterns and attitudes.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Denial Makes Diagnosis More Difficult&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Getting an honest answer about alcohol use and its effects on your life is a problem because a common symptom of alcoholism is &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/denial-a-symptom-of-alcoholism-63296&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;denial&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. An old adage about alcoholism is it&amp;amp;#39;s &amp;amp;#34;the only disease that denies it exists and resists treatment.&amp;amp;#34;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If the drinker won&amp;amp;#39;t be honest about their drinking habits, it is difficult, if not impossible, to accurately diagnose AUD.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Family and Friends See the Problem&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Long before a health care worker gives an AUD diagnosis,\u00A0friends and family of the drinker\u00A0usually recognize the problem.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;They may try to talk to the drinker about the problem and encourage him/her to get help, but again, denial comes into play. Denial is so common in people with alcohol abuse problems that denial itself is a warning &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;woJ3FUjLemNCkytxOCqTMw&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/signs-and-symptoms-of-alcoholism-66520&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;sign of alcoholism&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. The drinker simply does not see, or refuses to admit, &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;ywxN97Np7wkFxBjmRhAQaw&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/information-about-alcoholism-62679&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;that alcohol use&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is the source of problems.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Moreover, a health care professional is unlikely to give an AUD diagnosis during routine visits because this condition is misdiagnosed more than 70 percent of the time.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/when-a-doctor-says-you-need-help-for-medication-abuse-21999&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Most Doctors Fail to Diagnose Alcohol Abuse&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-can-i-get-him-to-stop-63286&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;How Can I Get Him to Stop?&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/family-intervention-the-pitfalls-63300&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Family Intervention - The Pitfalls&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Diagnostic Tools for AUD&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;There are many diagnostic tests to screen for and evaluate drinking problems. To overcome denial, most don&amp;amp;#39;t ask direct questions about the number of drinks\u00A0but ask questions about problems associated with drinking instead.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Shorter, four-to-five question alcohol screening tests, such as the FAST test, are effective in the initial screening to detect AUD, while longer, more elaborate tests do a more in-depth evaluation and assessment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/alcohol-screening-tests-ideal-for-healthcare-settings-69503&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Short Alcohol Tests Ideal for Healthcare Screening&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-can-i-tell-if-i-have-a-drinking-problem-63760&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;How Can I Tell If I Have a Drinking Problem?&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/alcohol-abuse-screening-quiz-67877&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Online Alcoholism Screening Quiz&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Symptoms of Alcohol Dependence&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Medical professionals use the responses from the diagnostic test to determine how many of the 11 major symptoms of AUD the drinker is experiencing.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In order to receive an AUD diagnosis in accordance with the fifth edition of the\u00A0Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) you must meet two of the 11 criteria within a 12-month period:\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ol&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Drinking more or longer than intended.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;The desire to stop or modify your drinking habits more than once, but couldn&amp;amp;#39;t.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Spending a lot of your time drinking or being hungover.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Wanting a drink so badly you couldn&amp;amp;#39;t concentrate on anything else.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Drinking and being hungover interfered with your responsibilities to your family, job and home.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Continuing to drink even though it causes trouble with family and friends.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Giving up important and enjoyable activities in order to drink.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Getting into situations after drinking, such as driving or walking in a high-crime neighborhood, that increased your chances of injuring yourself.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Continuing to drink even though it made you feel depressed, anxious, and/or blackout.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Needing to drink more than you did before to get the same effect.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Feeling withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea and sweating.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ol&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Once diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, you will receive an additional distinction of mild, moderate or severe, which is based on the number of criteria you meet.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/symptoms-of-alcohol-withdrawal-63791&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/alcohol-withdrawal-63792&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Withdrawal: From Mild to Severe&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/treatment-for-alcohol-withdrawal-symptoms-80190&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;How Withdrawal Is Treated&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/alcoholism-as-a-disease-63292&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;But It Doesn&amp;amp;#39;t Act Like a Disease!&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-do-we-mean-by-alcoholism-62620&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;14&amp;quot;&amp;gt;What Do We Mean By Alcoholism?&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/alcohol-abuse-vs-alcohol-dependence-63101&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;15&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Alcohol Abuse vs. Alcohol Dependence&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Source: &amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. &amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/diagnosis-of-alcoholism-66519>