Alcoholism and the Concept of Disease

Hershon, H. I.

doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1974.tb01291.x

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Models of alcoholism and addiction have been studied and debated for some time now. The summary and distillation of beliefs regarding addiction that follows are interpretations of selected writings on the topic, (Jessor, 1958;MacAndrew & Garfinkel, 1962;Mulford & Miller, 1964;Pattison, 1966;Siegler et al, 1968;Verden et al, 1969;Bateson, 1971;Robinson, 1972;Overton & Reese, 1973;Szasz, 1973;Hershon, 1974;Kj0lstad, 1974;Engel, 1977;Keller, 1976;Pattison, 1976;Kendell, 1979;Peele, 1981;Keller, 1982;Marlatt & Gordon, 1985;Fingarette, 1985c;Prochaska & DiClemente, 1986;Peele, 1986;Caetano, 1987;Alexander, 1987;Fillmore & Kelso, 1987;Musto, 1987;Segal, 1987;Alexander & Schweighofer, 1988;Peele, 1988aPeele, , 1988bPeele, , 1988cFillmore, 1988;Beasley, 1988;Fingarette, 1988;Bennett, 1988;Faulkner et al, 1988;Room, 1988Room, , 1989Gerhardt, 1989;Heather & Robertson, 1989;Peele, 1989;Brisbane, 1989;…”

Section: Three Models Of Addiction Beliefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addiction Beliefs of Treatment Providers: Factors Explaining Variance

Schaler

1997

Addiction Research

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This study investigated factors accounting for variance in beliefs among addiction-treatment providers regarding the etiology of addiction (N=295). A survey was mailed to members of three national treatmentprovider organizations. The 18-item Addiction Belief Scale (ABS) assessed strength of belief in the disease versus free-will model of addiction (a==.91).Seo.res on an eight-item Spiritual Belief Scale assessing spiritual thinking based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) philosophy (a=.92), the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales, and demographic questions were used to predict scores on the ABS.

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Section: Three Models Of Addiction Beliefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addiction Beliefs of Treatment Providers: Factors Explaining Variance

Schaler

1997

Addiction Research

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“…One of the psychiatrists criticizing the disease concept of alcoholism is Hershon [7]. In his view "only two features of disease... are generally applicable and universally constant": i.e., the disease "should be seen to be related to an aetiologically relevent physical process which the person cannot choose not to have or will away".…”

Section: The Disease Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcoholism Disease Concept and Loss of Control Revisited*

Glatt

1976

British Journal of Addiction to Alcohol & Other Drugs

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Summary Recent criticism of the applicability of the disease concept, the medical model and “loss of control”, to alcoholism, all seem in part to be based on semantic “man‐of‐straw” arguments. If each of the terms “disease”, “medical”, “alcoholism”, “loss of control” is equated with organic physical changes only, such criticism might perhaps be justified—with the proviso that knowledge on alcoholism at present is still far from complete. These criticisms, however, lose much of their basis if the terms “disease”, “medical”, “alcoholism”, and “loss of control” are taken to include psychosomatic and psycho‐social factors as well as physical ones. Medical men are concerned with psychological and social, as well as physical, conditions. If “loss of control” is viewed as a multi‐factorial condition affected by psychological and social, as well as physico‐chemical factors, the finding that under certain favourable psychological and social conditions some alcoholics can drink in moderation for shorter or longer periods, becomes easily understandable‐this, however, by no means affects the basic applicability of the “loss of control” concept, the alcoholics' inability to drink safely in moderation for very long, and the advisability of adhering to the principle of total abstinence.

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“…This was, of course, consistent with a disease conception of alcoholism. With roots in such sources as the Talmud and Roman philosophy (Keller, 1976), medical authorities such as Trotter and Benjamin Rush suggested the idea over two centuries ago (Jellinek, 1960;Hershon, 1974). Between 1876 and 1914, a "Journal of Inebriety" contained many papers supporting the idea.…”

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confidence: 99%

Perspectives on the professional in alcoholism.

Sadava¹

1982

Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne

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The article reviews relevant literature regarding the professional in alcoholism, who works in an area in which non-professionals, often recovered alcoholics, and self-help "fellowships" have unusual influence. Professional values regarding research, innovation and evaluation conflict with the "craft" and ideological commitment of paraprofessionals. Examples of the conflict of ideology versus research include the notions of irreversibility of alcoholism, loss of control over drinking and alternative treatment goals. Professionals must also cope with the stigma of working in a "stigmatized" area. Role functions of professionals and value changes among paraprofessionals are suggested.

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Alcoholism and the Concept of Disease

Cited by 10 publications

References 16 publications

Addiction Beliefs of Treatment Providers: Factors Explaining Variance

Addiction Beliefs of Treatment Providers: Factors Explaining Variance

Alcoholism Disease Concept and Loss of Control Revisited*

Perspectives on the professional in alcoholism.

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