Harmful pattern of use of alcohol

A pattern of alcohol use that has caused damage to a person’s physical or mental health or has resulted in behavior leading to harm to the health of others. The pattern of alcohol use is evident over a period of at least 12 months if substance use is episodic or at least one month if use is continuous. Harm to health of the individual occurs due to one or more of the following: (1) behavior related to intoxication; (2) direct or secondary toxic effects on body organs and systems; or (3) a harmful route of administration. Harm to health of others includes any form of physical harm, including trauma, or mental disorder that is directly attributable to behavior related to alcohol intoxication on the part of the person to whom the diagnosis of Harmful pattern of use of alcohol applies.

ICD-11 diagnostic criteria

• powtarzające się spożywanie alkoholu
• negatywne konsekwencje zdrowotne lub społeczne

How to recognise

In the ICD-11 framework, the core symptoms taken into account when recognising Harmful pattern of use of alcohol are:

• częste epizody nadmiernego picia

Differential diagnosis

When diagnosing Harmful pattern of use of alcohol, the following ICD-11 disorders should be considered in the differential diagnosis:

• Uzależnienie od alkoholu (6C40.2)
• Epizod szkodliwego używania alkoholu (6C40.0)

Frequently asked questions

How is Harmful pattern of use of alcohol diagnosed according to ICD-11?

According to ICD-11, the diagnostic criteria for Harmful pattern of use of alcohol (6C40.1) include: powtarzające się spożywanie alkoholu; negatywne konsekwencje zdrowotne lub społeczne.

What disorders are in the differential diagnosis of Harmful pattern of use of alcohol?

The differential diagnosis of Harmful pattern of use of alcohol (6C40.1) includes: Uzależnienie od alkoholu (6C40.2), Epizod szkodliwego używania alkoholu (6C40.0).

WHO ICD-11 source

View this entry in the official WHO ICD-11 browser: 6C40.1 – WHO ICD-11