Proposed changes in DSM-III substance use disorders: description and rationale

• DOI: 10.1176/ajp.143.4.463
• Publication Date: 2014-12-17T19:22:13Z
• Authors: Bruce J. Rounsaville; Robert L. Spitzer; Janet B. W. Williams
• Keywords: Manuals as Topic; Psychotropic Drugs; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Substance-Related Disorders; Terminology as Topic; Humans; Drug Tolerance; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; 3. Good health

The authors describe changes in DSM-III substance use disorders to be included the revised version, DSM-III-R. Major revisions include removal of distinction between "abuse" and "dependence" broadening definition a syndrome clinically significant behaviors that indicate serious degree involvement with psychoactive drugs; creation new category "psychoactive neuroadaptation syndrome" for individuals whose physiological adaptations high doses substances did not arise from their own behavior; an identical set symptoms determine dependence on all different classes substances; provision system rating severity dependence.