Dear Editor:
The conceptual formulations of Griffith Edwards’s dependence syndrome (Edwards and Gross, 1976) have had an enormous influence on the measurement of substance use disorders, particularly regarding the formulations of the alcohol and drug dependence categories in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, Revised (DSM-III-R; American Psychiatric Association, 1987), DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), and
the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10; World Health Organization, 1992). In a thoughtful letter (Edwards, 2012—p. 699 this issue), Dr. Edwards asks several important questions about substance use disorders in DSM-5. We are currently preparing a review article that goes into these issues and others in considerable detail. However,in the meantime, responding now to the specific issues raised by Dr. Edwards provides the rationale for some of the DSM- 5 changes more rapidly and to a wider audience than would otherwise be possible, and this format also allows presentation
of the material in a more narrative fashion.
Dr. O’Brien has responded regarding the terminology for the disorders (O’Brien, 2012—p. 705 this issue). Here, I address the concern about combining abuse and dependence, thereby eliminating the abuse category. > > > > Read More
