Nosology and epidemiology of addictive disorders and their comorbidity

With the latest revision of the DSM, crtieria for substance dependence now closely matches those in the ICD-10 system, establishing for the first time what may be considered a worldwide classification system for addictive disorders. Tracing the evolution of the nosology of psychoactive dependence and abuse disorders, describing the epidemiology of addictive disorders across the varying definitions of substance dependence, and presenting other psychiatric disorders that are commonly comorbid with addictive disorders are the major goals for this article.