Discussion:
Alcohol Dependency and Drinking Progression
A new client describes a 20-year progression of drinking that has culminated in severe alcohol dependence. Your client drinks a case of beer each day and is experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. Your client has an extremely high tolerance for alcohol intake.
Questions:
1. Describe how you would use the Michigan Alcohol Screening test or the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI-3) to determine if alcohol dependence is an appropriate diagnosis.
2. Identify the clinical Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) symptoms of alcohol dependence that need to be present in order to place this diagnosis on Axis I.
3. In looking at the other four axes used in DSM-IV-TR diagnoses, what other information would you need to gather from the client in order to formulate a comprehensive treatment plan?