Two indicators DSM-5 criteria for alcohol use disorder include which pairing?

• A. Craving and tolerance
• B. Craving and withdrawal symptoms
• C. Tolerance and social impairment
• D. Craving and binge drinking

Answer: (A)

Craving and tolerance. The main idea is that an alcohol use disorder is diagnosed when at least two of the 11 DSM-5 criteria are present within a 12-month period. Craving is a strong desire or urge to drink, and tolerance means needing much more alcohol to achieve the same effect or a reduced effect with the same amount. Seeing craving together with tolerance shows two distinct diagnostic criteria occurring in the same person, illustrating how the disorder is defined by a pattern of symptoms rather than a single behavior. Binge drinking isn’t itself a DSM-5 criterion, which is why that pairing isn’t the diagnostic indicator. (Note that withdrawal is also a DSM-5 criterion, so craving with withdrawal would also meet two criteria, but the pairing of craving and tolerance clearly exemplifies two explicit criteria.)