The N.C.A. criteria for the diagnosis of alcoholism; an empirical evaluation study.

Abstract

Clinical applicability of the National Council on Alcoholism criteria for diagnosis of alcoholism and their diagnostic effectiveness were evaluated in 120 alcoholics from 3 alcoholism treatment facilities in Germany and 80 general hospital inpatients who were not suspected of being alcoholics (controls). All subjects [Ss] were men, and the 2 groups were matched for age. Alcoholism was diagnosed if 2 or more of the 58 minor criteria or 1 of the 28 major criteria were present. All alcoholics and 38 controls were diagnosed as alcoholics: 15 controls had 2 or more of the minor criteria and 23 (and 12 of the alcoholics) had 1-3 of the major criteria. Significant differences between alcoholics and controls were found on 48 criteria. Four of these 48 criteria (gross tremor, blackouts, morning drinking and regressive defense mechanism) explained over 90% of the variance. When responses to the 48 criteria were summed and a cutting point of 13.5 criteria/patient was selected, 95% of the Ss were correctly diagnosed. Since the criteria reflected the multidimensionality of alcoholism, they may be a suitable basis for further research on the development and testing of clinically applicable diagnostic instruments.