Question: Is alcoholism a mental disease?
Answer: Yes, alcoholism is a behavioral disorder and is so classified in the diagnostic manual of mental disorders. In this sense, it is a mental illness vs. a physical sickness.
- See more at: http://www.bettyfordcenter.org/treatment/doctors-office/is-alcoholism-a-mental-disease.php#sthash.HsYKt6QD.dpuf
Question: How many people who are alcoholic have a mental disorder? Answer: Alcoholism is a mental or behavioral disorder so I would say all of them. A comprehensive study of the United States population at large (Regiar, D.I. et al, the De Facto U.S. Mental and Addictive Disorders Service System, Archives of General Psychiatry, Feb. 1993) showed that of the total sample, 13.5 percent received an alcohol-related diagnosis and of this group 22.3 percent had an additional psychiatric diagnosis. An anxiety disorder is the most frequent psychiatric condition to accompany alcoholism. Fortunately, the vast majority of those people suffering from a dual disorder respond successfully to the psychotherapeutic and behavioral modification measures used in standard alcoholism treatment centers. Occasionally a more severe anxiety or phobic condition requires a nonaddicting medication in addition to alcoholism therapy. -
See more at: http://www.bettyfordcenter.org/treatment/doctors-office/do-alcoholics-also-have-a-mental-disorder.php#sthash.6CbbJ7zy.dpuf
What is the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse?
Alcohol abuse4 is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work. Manifestations of alcohol abuse include the following:
Failure to fulfill major responsibilities at work, school, or home.
Drinking in dangerous situations, such as drinking while driving or operating machinery.
Legal problems related to alcohol, such as being arrested for drinking while driving or for physically hurting someone while drunk.
Continued drinking despite ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by drinking.
Long-term alcohol abuse can turn into alcohol dependence.
Dependency on alcohol, also known as alcohol addiction and alcoholism4, is a chronic disease. The signs and symptoms of alcohol dependence include—
A strong craving for alcohol.
Continued use despite repeated physical, psychological, or interpersonal problems.
The inability to limit drinking. http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#alcoholismAbuse What health problems are associated with excessive alcohol use?
Excessive drinking both in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking, is associated with numerous health problems, including—
Chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis (damage to liver cells); pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas); various cancers, including liver, mouth, throat, larynx (the voice box), and esophagus; high blood pressure; and psychological disorders.
Unintentional injuries, such as motor-vehicle traffic crashes, falls, drowning, burns and firearm injuries.
Violence, such as child maltreatment, homicide, and suicide.
Harm to a developing fetus if a woman drinks while pregnant, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Alcohol abuse or dependence. http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#alcoholismAbuse Alcoholism is a chronic and often progressive disease that includes problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, having to drink more to get the same effect (physical dependence), or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking.