[Early recognition and diagnosis of alcoholism]

The starting point is a discussion of the definition of alcoholism in its various aspects: somatic, psychic and social sequelae, loss of control, amount of alcohol consumption. The clinical approach is oriented on target symptoms ("Leitsymptome") followed by a search for details of symptoms of alcoholism. Diagnostic tests for alcoholism and their problems are discussed. Examples of these tests are described, especially the Munich Alcoholism-Test (MALT).