In the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, Revised (DSM–III–R) (APA 1987), the duration criteria associated with abuse and dependence specify that some of the symptoms of the disorder must occur continuously during a month or repeatedly over a longer period of time. Unlike that of the DSM–III–R, the duration criteria of the DSM–IV abuse and dependence categories are associated with the individual diagnostic criteria and not the categories of abuse and dependence per se. The duration criterion for both alcohol-related disorders defines the repetitiveness with which certain diagnostic criteria must occur during a 12-month period for these criteria to be considered positive. As shown in the sidebar, the duration criteria for abuse and dependence are not associated with all diagnostic criteria and are defined by qualifiers, such as “recurrent,” “often,” and “persistent” desire or unsuccessful “efforts.”
