How does the DSM-5 define Substance Use Disorder severity, and what thresholds correspond to mild, moderate, and severe?

• A. Diagnosis is based on 2–11 possible criteria met within a 12-month period; 2–3 criteria = mild, 4–5 = moderate, 6+ = severe.
• B. Diagnosis is based on 0–2 criteria within a 6-month period; 0–1 mild, 2 moderate, 3+ severe.
• C. Diagnosis is based on 4–9 criteria within 24 months; 4–5 mild, 6–7 moderate, 8+ severe.
• D. Diagnosis is based on a single criterion; mild if one, moderate if two, severe if three or more.

Answer: (A)

Substance Use Disorder severity is determined by how many of the 11 diagnostic criteria a person meets within a 12-month period. You need at least two criteria to receive a diagnosis. The more criteria met, the more severe the disorder: 2–3 criteria = mild, 4–5 = moderate, 6 or more = severe. This framework also reflects a single spectrum rather than separate categories. So, meeting three criteria signals a mild disorder, five signals moderate, and seven signals severe. Other options differ by using wrong timeframes, counts of criteria, or thresholds, whereas the DSM-5 standard uses the 12-month window with 11 criteria and the 2–3/4–5/6+ severity cutoffs.