A primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. (Morse & Flavin for the Joint Commission of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism: in JAMA 1992;268:1012-4)

Descriptor ID	D000437
MeSH Number(s)	C25.775.100.250 F03.900.100.350
Concept/Terms	Alcoholism Alcoholism Alcohol Dependence Dependence, Alcohol Alcohol Addiction Addiction, Alcohol Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic Chronic Alcoholic Intoxication Intoxication, Chronic Alcoholic Alcohol Use Disorder Alcohol Use Disorder Alcohol Use Disorders Use Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorders, Alcohol Alcohol Abuse Alcohol Abuse Abuse, Alcohol

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Alcoholism".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Alcoholism".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Alcoholism".