Alcohol withdrawal diagnostic criteria

• A. Cessation of (or reduction in) alcohol use that has been heavy and prolonged.

AND

• B. Two (or more) of the following, developing within several hours to a few days after the cessation of (or reduction in) alcohol use described in Criterion A:

• 1. Autonomic hyperactivity (e.g., sweating or pulse rate greater than 100 bpm).
• 2. Increased hand tremor.
• 3. Insomnia.
• 4. Nausea or vomiting.
• 5. Transient visual, tactile, or auditory hallucinations or illusions.
• 6. Psychomotor agitation.
• 7. Anxiety.
• 8. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

AND

• C. The signs or symptoms in Criterion B cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

AND

• D. The signs or symptoms are not attributable to another medical condition and are not better explained by another mental disorder, including intoxication or withdrawal from

another substance.

Specify if:

• With perceptual disturbances: This specifier applies in the rare instance when hallucinations(usually visual or tactile) occur with intact reality testing, or auditory, visual,