[Early diagnosis of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence in general practice]

The doctor's office offers the best chance of an early diagnosis of alcohol-related disorders. The physician can make the most of his opportunity by always taking this possibility into account in patients with unspecific symptoms. Since so-called low-risk alcohol consumption may develop into damaging drinking and finally addictive drinking leading to dependence, the physician must be familiar with the features of these different drinking patterns to be able to intervene prophylactically in the early forms, and therapeutically in later stages. Diagnostic talks with the patient should always contain elements of motivational interviewing so as to enable the physician to react appropriately to the degree of readiness of the patient to make necessary changes in his lifestyle.