Differential Diagnoses for Alcohol Abuse Disorder Essay Paper

Alcohol abuse disorder is defined by repeated alcohol use that results in clinically and functionally severe damage, including health issues, impairment, and an inability to perform key duties at work, school, or home. It is possible to abuse alcohol at many stages along a spectrum, from experimental or non-problematic to addicted. The three common differential diagnoses for alcohol abuse disorder include bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and depression Differential Diagnoses for Alcohol Abuse Disorder Essay Paper.

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The link between alcohol and bipolar disorder is a significant dual diagnosis. Individuals with bipolar disorder are more likely than the general population to suffer from alcohol abuse disorders, which affects about 60% of them (Nehring & Freeman, 2021). An alcohol use disorder screening should be performed on any person who exhibits substantial mood swings. In terms of anxiety disorders as a differential diagnosis for alcohol abuse disorders, individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more prone to suffer from alcohol addiction in order to self-treat the trauma symptoms. According to some research, up to 40% of men and women suffering from PTSD in the U.S. fit the criteria for an alcohol abuse disorder (Back & Jones, 2018). The level and kind of PTSD that a person suffers are among the factors that contribute to alcohol addiction in PTSD patients Differential Diagnoses for Alcohol Abuse Disorder Essay Paper.

People who experience depression are more prone to abusing or becoming addicted to alcohol, which makes depression another differential diagnosis for alcohol abuse disorder. Depression is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a persistent sense of sadness and despair that lasts for an extended period of time. With time, these feelings have an impact on how individuals think and behave. A wide range of life factors, including work duties, personal aspirations, and connections with friends and family members, may be adversely affected by this condition. For people suffering from depression, alcohol may be used to reduce symptoms like agitation, disinterest, anxiety, uneasiness, and sleeplessness (McHugh, 2019). Using alcohol as an escape from reality and a method to unwind has grown popular recently. However, taking alcohol as a self-medicating strategy for depression may have negative consequences for one’s physical and mental health (McHugh, 2019)Differential Diagnoses for Alcohol Abuse Disorder Essay Paper.

References

Back, S. E., & Jones, J. L. (2018). Alcohol use disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: An introduction. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 42(5), 836-840. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.13619

McHugh, R. (2019). Alcohol use disorder and depressive disorders. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 40(1). https://doi.org/10.35946/arcr.v40.1.01

Nehring, S. M., & Freeman, A. M. (2021). Alcohol Use Disorder. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436003/

Differential Diagnoses for Alcohol Abuse Disorder Essay Paper