For most fully alcohol-attributable diagnoses in the ICD, the etiological specification should be removed

Authors

  • Shannon Lange Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto.
  • Michael Roerecke Institute for Mental Health and Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  • Jürgen Rehm Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy & Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies, Technische Universität Dresden. Department of International Health Projects, Institute for Leadership and Health Management, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.1376

Keywords:

Alcohol, Disease classification, Etiology, International Classification of Diseases.

Abstract

Alcohol use is a risk factor for many chronic disease conditions, over 40 of which are regarded as fully alcohol-attributable. The practice of specifying the etiological cause in the names of diseases fully alcohol-attributable in the International Classification of Diseases has resulted in affected-individuals being stigmatized, misdiagnosed, and mistreated. Additional outcomes of this practice may include delayed care and misreporting. The consequences of specifying alcohol in the names of diseases causally linked to alcohol are discussed with respect to two examples: alcoholic liver disease and foetal alcohol syndrome. With respect to symptomatology and treatment, each of these conditions are not unique from there non-alcohol attributed counterparts--that is, non-alcoholic liver diseases and idiopathic neurodevelopmental disorders. Specifying “alcohol” in the name of a disease has a number of negative consequences, yet no apparent benefits. Given that the International Classification of Diseases is the international standard for reporting diseases and health conditions, having diagnostic categories that impede the ability of health care professionals to report diseases accurately is self-defeating.

Author Biographies

Shannon Lange, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto.

Project Scientist 

Michael Roerecke, Institute for Mental Health and Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Independent Scientist

Jürgen Rehm, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy & Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies, Technische Universität Dresden. Department of International Health Projects, Institute for Leadership and Health Management, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University.

Senior Scientist

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Published

2020-02-14

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 2 (2020)

Section

Editorial