Alcohol consumption patterns according to Jellinek

Alcohol consumption does not follow a single pattern, but rather a varied one. However, it is possible to trace certain common psychological, sociocultural and pathophysiological patterns that can be grouped under certain typologies that allow us to better understand this problem.

Since alcoholism began to be studied, many classification systems have been developed, among which Jellinek’s proposal stands out. In it you can find a distribution of drinkers into five large groups. Let’s dig deeper.

Elvin Morton Jellinek

He was an American physiologist and biostatistician. who is considered the father of scientific studies on alcoholism. In fact, his research has contributed to a better understanding of this disease.

Jellinek was born in New York in 1890. Between 1908 and 1910, he studied biostatistics and physiology at the University of Berlin. and for two years he studied philosophy, anthropology, philology and theology at the Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble. In addition, he also studied linguistics, cultural history and several languages. In fact, Jellinek spoke nine languages.

In the 1930s, the physiologist worked at a Massachusetts hospital, where the Alcohol Research Council commissioned a study on alcoholism. From this investigation, he came out his first book in 1942, Alcohol addiction and chronic alcoholism.

He worked at Yale University and took over the editorship of the magazine. Quarterly Journal of studies on alcohol. Likewise, he was hired by the WHO as alcoholism consultant in Geneva. During that time, she worked with the Mental Health Expert Committees and made important contributions to the understanding of alcoholism.

In 1950, he stopped working for the WHO and returned to the United States. By the year 1952, Jellinek stated that alcoholism was a disease that evolved in phases (pre-alcoholic, symptomatic prodromal, crucial or critical and chronic) progressively and that these could be identified with some ease.

Alcoholism was a disease that developed through several phases.

His most famous book is The alcoholic disease (1960). In it, he describes various types of alcoholics according to different types of alcohol consumption patterns. Now, Jellinek was not trying to pigeonhole all drinkers under the label of sick, since not all of them had an alcoholic disease.

To consider an alcoholic as sick, it is necessary that he or she present an inability to abstain or a loss of control, and not in all types these circumstances exist.

Jellinek’s drinking patterns

In Jellinek’s classification we can find five types of alcoholism, each with a series of characteristic symptoms.

Alpha alcoholism

These are individuals who suffer from a physical or psychological illness; Therefore, his alcoholism is a consequence of this. They are symptomatic drinkers who consume alcohol to cope with the adverse effects of an organic or mental illness.

In these cases, alcoholism is used as self-medication, This is stated in an article published in Addiction. It occurs, for example, in people with epilepsy, schizophrenia, paranoia or in individuals who are very insecure about themselves.

In this way, this type of individuals They present a continuous psychological dependence to neutralize bodily or emotional pain. On the other hand, they tend to be undisciplined in their alcohol intake (they do not follow social rules regarding time, occasion, location, quantity and effect of the drink).

They do not present a lack of control or inability to abstain, nor do they present signs of a progressive process or disturbances due to alcohol withdrawal. Yes indeed, They can evolve to gamma.

This type of pattern is also recognized as a evasive or problematic consumption of alcohol.

beta alcoholism

People with beta alcoholism do not have true physical or psychological dependence, according to the APA; Therefore, discontinuing the drug does not cause a withdrawal syndrome. Although it is true that they present organic repercussions of the habit (alcoholization) and complications such as polyneuropathies, gastritis or liver cirrhosis.

This type of alcoholism can lead to gamma or delta and presents a general deterioration in health and a reduction in life expectancy.

epsilon alcoholism

It is periodic alcoholism or dipsomania. These are people who resist long periods of abstinence until, unexpectedly, they indulge in compulsive and intensive drinking (binge drinking).

Epsilon alcoholism is associated with twilight states, with semi-automatic behaviors and subsequent amnesia. Also in epileptic or cyclothymic dysthymia.

Gamma alcoholism

As an article points out, this pattern of alcohol consumption has the following characteristics:

Progressive tissue tolerance.Adaptation of cellular metabolism.physical dependency recorded in the form of signs of withdrawal or lack of control.

The defining fact is the impulse to drunkenness. In fact, there is a problem of control when one begins to drink, since the episodes do not usually end until the appearance of health or financial problems that prevent continued drinking.

In gamma alcoholism there are periods of daily drunkenness for months or weeks between which there is abstinence or moderate consumption. It is common in countries where a lot of liquor is drunk, such as the US and Great Britain; hence it is also called Anglo-Saxon alcoholism.

delta alcoholism

In this type of alcoholism There is tolerance, physical dependence and withdrawal syndrome. It is characterized by a high volume of daily alcohol consumption, but without intoxication and without compulsion to exceed the amount.

The ability to control the amount of drink consumed is usually not altered. It has the characteristics of the gamma plus the inability to abstain.

This alcoholism It differs from the gamma in that it cannot go a single day without drinking, andThat is to say, you cannot abstain, as stated by the APA Dictionary of Psychology.

Alcoholism is a problem that has a very varied typology.

Alcoholism treatment

exist different types of treatments for alcoholism, since it involves interventions at various levels. Thus, therapeutic intervention is aimed at both alcohol dependence and abstinence, combining psychotherapy, both at an individual and group level, with psychopharmacological intervention (disulfiram or naltrexone, among others).

Therapy programs are distinguished by being multidisciplinary and the treatment is carried out long term to achieve satisfactory abstinence. To the extent possible, they will not only focus on the person who has problems with alcohol, but also on their family members and partners.

From the cognitive-behavioral model, alcohol is assumed to be a powerful reinforcer, which, in turn, depends on the historical context and availability current of the substance. However, this perspective does not necessarily seek complete, lifelong abstinence, depending on the situation.

Psychological treatment is based on the modification of behavioral patterns associated with alcohol consumption. In this way, the aim is to promote a proactive role for the patient in relation to their problem. Additionally, you are instructed in social skills and coping and relapse prevention.

In the first phase, the objective is for the person learn to handle yourself in situations that may trigger your desire to drink, through social skills training and preparation for change.Later we work on relapse prevention. In this phase, a distinction is made between the concept of fall (drinking on one occasion) and relapse (reestablishment of the drinking habit). In this way, the effect of violating abstinence is avoided.

As we see, the treatment seeks to reduce the person’s interest in alcohol, while increasing their preference for other activities and handling in complicated situations or with certain difficulties.

This type of therapy conceives a dimensional continuum between substance use and abuse. It is because of that, In some individuals, it may be appropriate to advocate a controlled drinking strategy rather than complete abstinence.

On the other hand, The treatments are not carried out in a hospital regime but in the person’s environment. Now, when she decides to stop drinking and has been consuming in large quantities, she will suffer withdrawal syndrome. Therefore, it may be necessary to initially perform inpatient or outpatient detoxification, usually with tranquilizers.

An important aspect is the support of the partner or family in the case of outpatient detoxification, both for physical symptoms and craving.

There are many types of alcoholism

As we have reviewed in this article, there is not a single form of alcoholism, but rather there are various manifestations of it. Each typology presents its own characteristics that make it a broad and multi-causal problem.

We hope that with the information we have provided you, you will put aside the widespread idea that all alcoholics are the same. As you already know, this disease is much more complex than it seems at first glance.

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