Alcoholism: The Genetic Inheritance - Hardcover

Fitzgerald, Kathleen Whalen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0385199333 ISBN 13: 9780385199339

Publisher: Doubleday, 1988

Synopsis

A recovered alcoholic discusses the ways in which genetic predisposition, metabolic imbalances, and biochemical factors can cause the disease of alcoholism and how a victim of the disease, as well as family and other loved ones, can overcome this illness

About this title

About the Author

Kathleen whalen FitzGerald, Ph.D., is the President of the Institute for Recovery in Lake Forest, Illinois.

She has been published by Doubleday, Contemporary Books, Whales' Tale Press, The Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, Christian Century, New Age, Alcoholism & Addiction and Professional Counselor magazines. Her titles include Women in AA (1999), Brass: Jane Byrne & the Pursuit of Power (1983), The Good Sisters (re-printed, 2002), and Whatever Happened to the Good Sisters (re-printed, 2002).

Dr. Fitzgerald is a trained interventionist, writer, therapist, public speaker and retreat facilitator. She has appeared on national television and radio and has addressed university, political, professional, church and social groups. She received her doctorate from Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy.

From Publishers Weekly

Some critics maintain that the concept of alcoholism as a disease has been pushed too far because it tends to absolve heavy drinkers of responsibility. FitzGerald brushes over this controversy, arguing that compulsive drinking is a hereditary, progressive illness caused by irregular body chemistry. This primer on the causes and cure of "Jellinek's disease," as she calls alcoholism (after the Yale doctor who investigated its biochemical roots) summarizes the clinical evidence for physical dependency and outlines stages of addiction. The author is herself a recovering alcoholic and novelist (The Good Sisters). She illuminates the crucial roles played by the problem drinker's family membersthe spouse who acts as Enabler, children who become Mascots, Scapegoats or Super Kids. Helpful advice on influencing the alcoholic to confront his or her problem is interwoven with mini-case histories. Appendixes include six checklists for alcoholics and family members seeking help.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Doubleday
• Publication date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 0385199333
• ISBN 13: 9780385199339
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 248