TY  -  JOUR
AU  -  Vitali, Mario
AU  -  Sorbo, Francesca
AU  -  Mistretta, Martino
AU  -  Scalese, Bruna
AU  -  Porrari, Raffaella
AU  -  Galli, Domenica
AU  -  Coriale, Giovanna
AU  -  Rotondo, Claudia
AU  -  Solombrino, Simona
AU  -  Attilia, Maria Luisa
AU  -  Interdisciplinary Study Group CRARL - 
SITAC - SIPaD - SITD - SIPDip
T1  -  Dual diagnosis: an intriguing and actual nosographic issue too long neglected
PY  -  2018
Y1  -  2018-05-01
DO  -  10.1708/2925.29418
JO  -  Rivista di Psichiatria
JA  -  Riv Psichiatr
VL  -  53
IS  -  3
SP  -  154
EP  -  159
PB  -  Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore
SN  -  2038-2502
Y2  -  2026/05/17
UR  -  http://dx.doi.org/10.1708/2925.29418
N2  -  SUMMARY. Background. The term “dual diagnosis” (DD) has been used in clinical practice for years. However, there is confusion about these medical cases, which consist in the presence of both a psychiatric disorder and a substance abuse disorder (in this case, alcohol). There are evidences that in the alcohol use disorder (AUD) population, 50.3% of patients had a psychiatric comorbidity during their lifetime. Nevertheless, to these days there are not any thorough guidelines for the management of these patients. A precise nosography would prevent delay in diagnosis and treatment and all the self-evident negative outcomes of those delays. Materials and methods. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, including studies published between 1980 and 2015. Search terms were: “guidelines”, “treatment”, “comorbidity”, “substance abuse”, “alcohol”, “dual-diagnosis”, “etiopathogenesis”, “outpatient”, “inpatient”, “unit”, “diagnosis”. Out of 1045 titles, 43 studies were included in this article for their relevance on definition and nosography of DD. Results. Taking into account the state of art available in the literature, we contributed to clarify the definition of DD in the alcohol addiction field. Clinical data confirm high prevalence of DD, and allow to better describe and understand the complex relationship between alcohol dependence and other psychiatric diseases. Conclusions. We believe that a clear nosographic framework and a precise diagnostic process are essential for a timely management of every case, using specific guidelines to standardize and improve clinical practice. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), which introduces dimensional approach, could be a useful tool to improve diagnostic accuracy.
ER  -