The AUDADIS diagnosis of alcohol dependence satisfied the clustering and duration criteria of the DSM–IV definition. The criteria of the DSM–IV include the requirement for a clustering of symptoms within any 1-year period. The duration criterion is defined as the repetitiveness with which symptoms must occur to be counted as positive toward a diagnosis. The duration criterion is represented by the terms “recurrent” and “persistent” that appear in the description of most of the dependence diagnostic criteria. Not only was the clustering criterion represented in past-year AUDADIS diagnoses of dependence, but also the corresponding past diagnoses (i.e., before the past year) were measured as syndromes, or the clustering of the required number of symptoms necessary to achieve a diagnosis as follows: (1) at the same time, (2) continuously for at least 1 month, or (3) repeatedly for several months.
