ADM Substance Use Disorders & Diagnostic Criteria 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to DSM-5, how many criteria must be met within a 12-month period to diagnose a mild substance use disorder?
- 1-2 (Correct answer)
- 2-3
- 4-5
- 6 or more
Correct answer: 1-2
DSM-5 requires 2-3 criteria for mild, 4-5 for moderate, and 6 or more for severe substance use disorder.
Question 2: Which DSM-5 criterion for substance use disorder describes using the substance in situations where it is physically hazardous?
- Recurrent use resulting in failure to fulfill major role obligations
- Recurrent use in situations where it is physically hazardous (Correct answer)
- Continued use despite persistent social problems
- Tolerance requiring increased amounts
Correct answer: Recurrent use in situations where it is physically hazardous
The hazardous use criterion specifically refers to using a substance in physically dangerous situations such as driving while impaired.
Question 3: A patient reports spending most of the day obtaining, using, and recovering from alcohol. Which DSM-5 criterion does this best exemplify?
- Craving
- Hazardous use
- A great deal of time spent (Correct answer)
- Social impairment
Correct answer: A great deal of time spent
The criterion 'a great deal of time spent' covers excessive time devoted to obtaining, using, or recovering from the substance's effects.
Question 4: Which of the following substances is MOST likely to produce a clinically significant withdrawal syndrome that meets DSM-5 criteria?
- Cannabis
- Hallucinogens
- Inhalants
- Alcohol (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Alcohol
Alcohol withdrawal is one of the most clinically significant, potentially life-threatening withdrawal syndromes recognized in DSM-5.
Question 5: Under DSM-5, the criterion of 'tolerance' in substance use disorder is defined as which of the following?
- Inability to stop despite multiple attempts
- Need for increased amounts to achieve intoxication or diminished effect with same amount (Correct answer)
- Withdrawal symptoms upon cessation
- Continued use despite medical problems
Correct answer: Need for increased amounts to achieve intoxication or diminished effect with same amount
Tolerance is defined as needing markedly increased amounts to achieve the desired effect, or experiencing diminished effect with the same amount.
Question 6: A patient with opioid use disorder on prescribed methadone maintenance shows physiological dependence. Per DSM-5, how should tolerance and withdrawal be handled in this context?
- They count toward the diagnosis as with any other patient
- They do not count toward the diagnosis when occurring solely from prescribed medications taken as directed (Correct answer)
- They automatically qualify the patient for severe OUD
- They must be documented but do not affect severity rating
Correct answer: They do not count toward the diagnosis when occurring solely from prescribed medications taken as directed
DSM-5 specifies that tolerance and withdrawal do not count toward the substance use disorder diagnosis when occurring solely from prescribed medications taken as directed.
Question 7: Which specifier in DSM-5 applies to a patient with opioid use disorder who has been abstinent from all opioids for 14 months and is not in a controlled environment?
- In early remission
- In sustained remission (Correct answer)
- In a controlled environment
- In partial remission
Correct answer: In sustained remission
Sustained remission requires that none of the SUD criteria (except craving) have been met for 12 months or longer.
ADM Substance Use Disorders & Diagnostic Criteria 2
According to DSM-5, how many criteria must be met within a 12-month period to diagnose a mild substance use disorder?