BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are of high prevalence in the community. The aim of the present study is to examine the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of psychiatrists and psychotherapists in patients with AUDs. METHODS: A standardized questionnaire was sent to all psychiatrists and psychologists in the South Badenia region (n = 745). It consisted of general questions and those regarding diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the last patient seen with an AUD. A total of 224 questionnaires sent back by 160 psychotherapists [PT] and 64 psychiatrists [P] could be included in the analysis. RESULTS: The mean stated prevalence of AUDs was 5 %. The mean age of the reported patient was 44 +/- 10 years, 60 % were men. The initial reason for consultation in psychotherapy was in 61.9 % depression in comparison to 40.7 % psychiatry (p <or = 0,01). The majority of patients seen by psychiatrists (44.1 %) were referred by their general practitioners. Standardised screening instruments were rarely used. The concordance of the diagnostic judgement and formal ICD 10-criteria was 74.5 % [P] vs. 45.5 % [PT] (p
