E. M. Jellinek and the evolution of alcohol studies: a critical essay

Abstract

The career of E. M. Jellinek and his impact on the evolution of the modern alcohol studies field is examined. Special attention is paid to his statistical and theoretical contributions, his work with the Yale Section of Alcohol Studies and the World Health Organization, and his own evolving perspective toward alcohol problems.

Typologies of Alcohol Dependence. From Jellinek to Genetics and Beyond

“…◆ inability to abstain from drinking ◆ most common subtype found in France Cloninger et al (1981) Type I Type II ◆ influence of a childhood family environment ◆ uninfluenced by childhood environment ◆ late-onset (after age 25) ◆ inherit disease from father ◆ men and women affected equally ◆ onset before the age of 25 years ◆ ability to abstain from drinking (at least temporarily) ◆ primarily affects males ◆ desire to avoid harm ◆ inability to abstain ◆ self-medicators ◆ often drink heavily ◆ generaly respond better to treatment ◆ no desire to avoid harm ◆ history of antisocial acts ◆ drink for pleasure ◆ poor response to treatment Babor et al (1992a, b) Type A Type B ◆ later onset of disease ◆ earlier disease onset ◆ fewer childhood risk factors ◆ more childhood risk factors ◆ less severe symptoms of substance abuse disorders ◆ familial alcoholism ◆ fewer alcohol-related social and physical consequences ◆ more psychopathology ◆ less psychopathology ◆ more life stress ◆ less stress ◆ chronic treatment history ◆ less chance of prior treatment EOA/LOA Late-Onset Alcoholism (LOA) Early-Onset Alcoholism (EOA) ◆ age of onset(>25 years) ◆ age of onset(≤25 years) most common AD subtype in some European countries, such as France (Page 1997). In summary, Jellinek distinguished these clusters of individuals with alcohol-related problems but among them recognized only two (gamma and delta) as subtypes of AD patients.…”

Alcohol Interventions: Disease Models vs. Harm Reduction

“…The realization that alcoholism cut across almost every field of human knowledge led the center to assemble a group of professionals that included a physician, a psychiatrist, a statistician, a psychologist, a sociologist, a lawyer, and an economist (Page, 1997). During this time the Center for Alcohol Studies at Yale University was created.…”

The trouble with drink: why ideas matter

“…That acceptance had been achieved just 20 years after the rebirth of the disease concept of alcoholism. The Yale Center [38], the US National Council on Alcoholism [39] and the rise of Alcoholics Anonymous [40] made important contributions to the dissemination of this idea. Jellinek provided much of the intellectual leadership [34], and it was fully in accord with his habits of mind that he should address himself to the definition of the emergent entity now called ‘alcoholism’.…”