The Alcohol Dependence Syndrome: A Step in the Wrong Direction?

Summary The notion of an alcohol dependence syndrome proposed by Edwards and his colleagues 1, 4, 5 has recently been criticised by Shaw 2. He argues that the syndrome idea emerged from the ashes of a simple disease model in order to keep medical men in business. It is based upon a socio‐political need rather than objective evidence. Shaw's criticisms are discussed in the light of recent data which show that assessments of degree of dependence, based upon the provisional description given by Edwards and Gross 1, have proven predictive validity. Failure to achieve a controlled drinking goal as well as the priming effect of alcohol appear to be, to some extent, a function of dependence severity. It follows that an assessment of degree of dependence should be useful to both the research worker and the clinician.