Two recent studies have explored the potential impact of the proposed changes in diagnostic criteria (Agrawal et al., 2011; Mewton et al., 2011) using large, population-based samples. Mewton and colleagues compared the 12-month prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) across DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) and DSM-5 diagnosis, and also investigated the psychometric properties of each criterion. Agrawal and colleagues also examined changes in 12-month prevalence across the diagnoses. Results varied slightly across samples: Mewton and colleagues reported a substantial increase in prevalence, while Agrawal et al. reported only a minor increase. Mewton et al. reported equivocal support for the inclusion of a craving criterion; Agrawal et al. found that its inclusion would not be disruptive in terms of prevalence, but did not assess the psychometric properties of the item. Mewton et al. reported IRT analyses that supported the exclusion of the legal problems criterion; Agrawal and colleagues reported that this change would have little impact on prevalence.
