Unspecified Alcohol-Related Disorder 503
drawal. While the symptoms are identical to those of independent mental disorders (e.g.,
psychoses, major depressive disorder), and while they can have the same severe conse-
quences (e.g., suicide attempts), all alcohol-induced syndromes other than alcohol-
induced neurocognitive disord er, amnestic confabulatory ty pe (alcohol-induced persist-
ing amnestic disorder), regardless of the se verity of the symptoms, are likely to improve
relatively quickly and unlikely to remain clin ically relevant for more than 1 month after
cessation of severe intoxication and/or withdrawal. 
The alcohol-induced disorders are an important part of the differential diagnoses for
the independent mental conditions. Independ ent schizophrenia, major depressive disor-
der, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders, su ch as panic disorder, are likely to be asso-
ciated with much longer-lasting periods of symptoms and often require longer-term
medications to optimize the probability of improvement or recovery . The alcohol-induced
conditions, on the other hand, are likely to be much shorter in duration and disappear
within several days to 1 month after cessatio n of severe intoxication and/or withdrawal,
even without psychotropic medications. 
The importance of recognizing an alcohol- induced disorder is similar to the relevance
of identifying the possible role of some endo crine conditions and medication reactions be-
fore diagnosing an independent mental disorder. In light of the high prevalence of alcohol
use disorders worldwide, it is important that these alcohol- induced diagnoses be consid-
ered before independent ment al disorders are diagnosed.
Unspecified Alcohol-Related Disorder
291.9 (F10.99)
This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of an alcohol-
related disorder that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupa-