DRINKING PATTERNS AND DSM-IV ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS' CRITERIA IN ARGENTINEAN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PATIENTS.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown cultural variations in normative drinking and furthermore, in the quantity and frequency of drinking related to alcohol use disorders. AIM: The main goal of this study is to characterize alcohol drinking patterns in Argentinean Emergency Department patients, and secondly, to explore the association between those drinking patterns and DSM-IV alcohol use disorders. METHOD: Data were collected from a probability sample of patients admitted to the Emergency Department of a large public hospital in Mar del Plata, Argentina.