Samuel Acuff
Samuel Acuff
Cassie Boness - Diagnostic Issues in Alcohol Use Disorder
Cassie Boness - Diagnostic Issues in Alcohol Use Disorder
Cassie Boness - Diagnostic Issues in Alcohol Use Disorder
Monday 30th November 2020
Cassie Boness discusses the diagnostic challenges of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and its impact on treatment in 'The Addiction Psychologist'.
65 minutes
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Samuel Acuff
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Get the buttons here!Cracking the Code: Diagnostic Challenges in Alcohol Use Disorder
Not everybody benefits from the same kind of treatment, and part of that, I think at least, is related to how heterogeneous alcohol use disorder is.
Imagine trying to solve a puzzle where the pieces don't quite fit together. That's what diagnosing Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) can feel like, according to Cassie Boness, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh. In this episode of 'The Addiction Psychologist', Boness breaks down the complexities of AUD symptoms and how they impact treatment options.
She points out that with eleven possible symptoms and only two needed for a diagnosis, the combinations can lead to very different profiles of individuals suffering from AUD. This means two people with the same number of symptoms could experience vastly different levels of severity, making treatment a tricky endeavor. Boness also sheds light on the uneven severity of AUD symptoms. Some symptoms are more debilitating than others, yet current diagnostic criteria don't always reflect this.
This inconsistency poses a challenge for clinicians and researchers who rely on these criteria to make important decisions. To tackle these issues, Boness advocates for a more nuanced approach, such as using the Research Domain Criteria to better understand the core mechanisms of AUD. Another significant point she raises is the clarity—or lack thereof—in the current diagnostic criteria. The existing criteria are often vague and don't fully capture the essence of AUD, making accurate diagnosis difficult.
Boness suggests that clearer, more specific criteria could lead to better treatment outcomes. But it's not just about the science. Boness emphasizes the importance of individual differences in treatment approaches and highlights the need for greater representation among researchers. Collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds and those with lived experiences can offer fresh perspectives and improve AUD diagnosis and treatment.
This episode is a deep dive into the intricate world of AUD diagnosis, offering valuable insights for anyone interested in understanding this complex disorder. Whether you're a clinician, researcher, or someone affected by AUD, Boness's discussion provides hope for more effective treatments in the future.