Acknowledging the crucial role of Max Glatt in the development of the Jellinek curve and the enduring relevance of his model of recovery from problem drinking

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Shortly after Max Glatt published a 'Chart of Alcohol Addiction and Recovery' in 1954, a misnomer emerged and it became known as the 'Jellinek Curve'. The current article aims to investigate the contributions that both Max Glatt and Morton Jellinek made towards the misnamed 'Jellinek Curve', how the misnomer may have emerged and the relevance of Jellinek's addiction concept and Glatt's model of recovery with contemporary theories of addiction and recovery.

METHOD

Warlingham Park Hospital housed the first residential alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation unit in the UK's National Health Service, a model created and developed by Max Glatt. Much of the data that informed Glatt's model came from ex-Warlingham Park Hospital patients in recovery. The current article assumes an ethnographic approach. Literature searches were undertaken and the Warlingham Park Hospital archives were scrutinized.

CONCLUSIONS

Max Glatt's 'Chart of Alcohol Addiction and Recovery' has mistakenly been referred to as the 'Jellinek Curve' for the last seven decades. 'The Matthew Effect' presents a possible explanation for the misnomer: the notion that eminent scientists are likely to receive greater credit than lesser-known scientists, regardless of their contribution. The recovery slope of Glatt's 'Chart' may be just as relevant today as when it was first published.

Characteristics of people who have received treatment for late-onset problem drinking and alcohol use disorder: A systematic review and narrative synthesis

Aims: The current review investigated the psychosocial characteristics of late-onset problem drinkers, an under-researched area of alcohol harm that accounts for one-third of older problem drinkers. Method: Following the PRISMA model, the protocol and search strategy included a scoping search and main search of nine databases. A total of 1,595 papers were identified; after screening, 26 papers were considered eligible and were included in the review. The review used an investigative framework comprising three categories: standardising age of onset; gender differences; and psychosocial and mental health characteristics. The review also investigated how meaning and purpose in life, and treatment have been reported in relation to this cohort. Findings/Conclusions: The combined onset ages of the reviews’ 26 papers (mean age = 52.69 years) and the participants’ self-reported age at onset (mean age = 56.79 years), suggest that late-onset alcohol use disorder (AUD)/problem drinking is likely to emerge at the age of 55 years and older. Moreover, there is a high prevalence of co-morbid mental health disorders among elderly, late-onset drinkers. Retirement was reported as the most prevalent psychosocial risk factor for late-onset problematic drinking; other late-life events included bereavement, loneliness and social isolation, and boredom. In the context of gender, women are at greater risk of developing late-onset problem drinking than men. Furthermore, late-onset problem drinkers, particularly women, are more treatment compliant than their early-onset counterparts, highlighting the case for bespoke treatments/interventions for late-onset problem drinkers. Finally, the role that meaning and purpose in life plays in late-onset problem drinking has been under-reported and requires further investigation.