The fifth edition of the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) has brought several changes in addiction chapter entitled “Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders”. Its key point is a new concept of continuous disorder where the previously separated diagnoses substance abuse and substance are replaced by a new diagnostic category “substance use disorders”; while “substance-induced disorders” are categorized, too. The addictology chapter of DSM-5 includes new diagnoses and the diagnostic criteria are updated in several others. We review the most important characteristics of DSM-5 keeping the focus on addictology, including a comparison with the previous release of classification (DSM-IV and DSM-IV-TR).

Key words: DSM-5 – substance related and addictive disorders – addiction – diagnostic criteria