Alcohol misuse is associated with significant health and mental problems as well as with social and personal problems. Numerous clinical decisions will depend on the assessment of this consumption, regarding both the treatment of alcohol related disease and the management of alcohol use disorders. For these reasons it is important to make a proper assessment of alcohol consumption and determine the drinking pattern.
We present a clinical case of a 28 year-old male patient admitted to our hospital due to acute pancreatitis. We review the history of alcohol consumption, the screening and diagnostics tests for alcohol depence, the proper terminology and the diagnostic criteria.
Alcohol dependence is assessed. We review alcohol-related disease and we perform a brief intervention to promote abstinence and patient's follow up after discharge.
Quantification of alcohol consumption and diagnosis of drinking pattern is essential in clinical practice. It allows the identification of patients with risky consumption, to assess withdrawal syndrome risk, and to perform a brief intervention aimed to decrease or cease alcohol use.