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Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Eric Robert Messner, Ph.D., FNP-BC and Curtis William Bone, MD, MHS Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Any pattern of alcohol use causing significant physical, mental, or social dysfunction. Key features are tolerance, withdrawal, and persistent use despite problems.

  • The severity of AU...

DIAGNOSIS

Use DSM-V criteria listed previously 

HISTORY

  • Thorough behavioral history

  • Anxiety, depression, insomnia, psychological and social dysfunction, marital, or relationship problems, domestic violen...

TREATMENT

For management of acute withdrawal, see “Alcohol Withdrawal.” 

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Brief interventions and counseling by clinicians have proven effective for problem drinking.

  • Treat comorbid probl...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Weekly follow up at the outset is often ideal with progressive spacing to 4 week follow up as condition stabilizes 

Patient Monitoring

  • Outpatient detoxification: da...

ADDITIONAL READING

SEE ALSO

  • NIAAA. Rethinking drinking: alcohol and your health. www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov.

  • NIAAA. Helping patients who drink too much...

CODES

ICD10

  • F10.10 Alcohol abuse, uncomplicated

  • F10.20 Alcohol dependence, uncomplicated

  • F10.239 Alcohol dependence with withdrawal, unspecified

  • F10.288 Alcohol dependence with other alcohol-induced disor...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • CAGE questionnaire: >2 “yes” answers is 74–89% sensitive, 79–95% specific for AUD; less sensitive for white women, college students, elderly; not an appropriate tool for less severe...

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