Within DSM-5-TR, what is the length of the time window used to evaluate Substance Use Disorder criteria?

• A. 24 months
• B. 6 months
• C. 12 months
• D. 36 months

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how DSM-5-TR defines the period over which symptoms are counted to diagnose Substance Use Disorder. The diagnostic window is 12 months. Clinicians look at whether two or more criteria have been met within the past year, and the number of criteria present in that same 12-month period determines the disorder’s severity (2–3 criteria = mild, 4–5 = moderate, 6+ = severe).

Why this matters: using a 12-month window keeps the diagnosis focused on recent functioning and behavior, rather than relying on older history that may no longer reflect the person’s current condition. If someone’s symptoms occurred only outside the past year, they wouldn’t count toward a current diagnosis, though lifetime history can still inform understanding of past problems or future risk. The other timeframes (two years, six months, or three years) aren’t used for the current DSM-5-TR SUD diagnosis because they would either dilute the focus on recent functioning or overemphasize older episodes.