DSM criteria for tobacco use disorder and tobacco withdrawal: a critique and proposed revisions for DSM-5

Abstract

Aims: This paper aims to identify appropriate criteria for tobacco dependence assessment, evaluate relevant research and suggest revisions that may be incorporated into DSM-5.

Methods: Desirable conceptual and psychometric features of tobacco dependence assessments were identified, including the types of outcomes against which such assessment should be validated. DSM-IV criteria were matched against these criteria and compared with other dependence measures.

Results: DSM-IV criteria were found to be ambiguous, little used in tobacco research, and have relatively low predictive validity. Other dependence measures were found to have greater validity in the prediction of important dependence features such as relapse likelihood. Strength of urges to smoke on typical smoking days and during abstinence, markers of nicotine intake or frequency of smoking and latency to smoke soon after waking were found to be useful dependence measures.

Conclusion: The use and utility of DSM-5 will be enhanced by eliminating most DSM-IV criteria and adding new ones based on smoking pattern, smoking heaviness, and the severity of craving during periods of smoking and withdrawal.