Evidence of DSM-5 and ICD-11 concurrent validity among Argentineans seeking treatment for alcohol use disorders

Abstract

Current efforts to better understand alcohol use disorder (AUD) have led to revisions of the most used classification systems, the DSM and the ICD. There is scarce information regarding how the latest versions of those two classification systems (DSM-5 and ICD-11) relate to functional characteristics (functional impairment (FI) and subjective distress (SD)) associated with AUD. Aim: To examine how the primary diagnostic system’s criteria (DSM) and guidelines (ICD) were related to two functional characteristics (FI and SD) as evidence of these systems' concurrent validity in Argentineans with AUD. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional correlational study with a clinical sample (n=34) in 2018. Results: AUD's severity was more strongly related to SD than FI. FI was weakly related to the criterion of much time spent using it. We found weak associations between SD and role impairment, interpersonal problems, tolerance, and physical or psychological problems due to use, withdrawal, and much time spent using. Only one of the ICD guidelines was weakly related to SD, and we found moderate positive correlations between DSM-5 and FI and between DSM-5 and SD. Conclusion: DSM-5 was more accurate than ICD-11 in identifying those with higher levels of FI and SD and, thus, had a greater concurrent validity among a clinical sample of Argentineans with AUD. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the detection of alcohol-related conditions.

Keywords

• alcohol-related disorders
• diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
• international classification of diseases
• psychological distress