Current RMA Instruments
| Reasonable Hypothesis SOP | 48 of 2017 |
| Balance of Probabilities SOP | 49 of 2017 |
Changes from previous Instruments
ICD Coding
- ICD-9-CM Codes: 303,305.0
- ICD-10-AM Codes: F10.1, F10.2
Brief description
Alcohol use disorder is a DSM-5 diagnosis that replaces the DSM-IV categories of alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse.
Confirming the diagnosis
A report from a specialist psychiatrist that conforms with the Repatriation Commission Guidelines for Psychiatric Compensation Claims is required for diagnosis.
The RMA SOP definition requires at least 4 of the DSM-5 criteria to be present (corresponding with DSM-5 moderate or severe alcohol use disorder).
Additional diagnoses covered by SOP
- Nil
Conditions not covered by SOP
- alcohol intoxication
- alcohol withdrawal
Clinical onset
The clinical onset of alcohol use disorder will be when the diagnostic criteria could first be said to have been met in full.
Clinical worsening
Evidence of worsening of the condition may be shown by an increase in the number of symptoms/diagnostic criteria or a more severe pattern of symptoms or problems resulting from alcohol use. Establishing that any worsening represents a permanent clincial worsening will be more difficult, as there may be fluctuations in the alcohol use pattern over time.