Diagnosing Addiction (AQA GCSE Psychology): Revision Note
Exam code: 8182
The use of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in diagnosing addiction
The ICD stands for the International Classification of Diseases
The ICD is a diagnostic tool used by any medical professional who is qualified to give a diagnosis pertaining to both physical and mental disorders e.g. doctors, clinicians, psychiatrists
The tenth version of the ICD (ICD-10) states that a person can be diagnosed as having a substance abuse disorder (i.e. they are addicted to a psychoactive substance) if three or more of the following criteria have been present together at some time over the previous year:
Clinical characteristic | Description |
A strong desire to use the substance | The person experiences a sense of compulsion to use it |
Difficulty in controlling the use of the substance | The person may have problems stopping their use and/or limiting how much they use |
Persisting despite harm | The person continues using the substance despite clear evidence of physical, psychological or emotional harm, and is aware of the nature and extent of that harm |
Experiencing withdrawal | The person feels worse than normal when they stop using the substance or cut down how much they take; symptoms vary by substance but may include vomiting, irritability, tiredness, headache and anxiety |
The substance takes priority over everything else | The person's substance use matters more to them than other activities or responsibilities — hygiene, nutrition, their job and relationships may be neglected as energy and commitment go towards sourcing and taking the substance |
Becoming tolerant to the substance | The person requires increasingly high doses to achieve effects that lower doses used to produce |
Worked Example
Here is an example of a question you might be asked on this topic - for AO2.
AO2: You need to apply your knowledge and understanding, usually referring to the ‘stem’ in order to do so (the stem is the example given before the question)
Amy’s dad is worried about her. Over the past few months, she has been displaying the following behaviour:
Confusion and disorientation
Feeling ill when she hasn’t had an alcoholic drink for a few hours
Needing to drink more alcohol to get the same ‘buzz’
Experiencing hallucinations
Experiencing low mood
Finding that she has hurt herself after a night of drinking alcohol
Being afraid to leave the house
Question: According to the International Classification of Diseases, which three of the above behaviours indicate that she may have substance abuse disorder (alcohol addiction)? [3]
Model answer:
Amy feels ill when she hasn’t had an alcoholic drink for more than a few hours which indicates she is in withdrawal.
Amy needs to drink more alcohol to get the same ‘buzz’ which indicates tolerance.
Amy finds that she has hurt herself after a night of drinking alcohol which indicates continuing despite harm to herself.
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