APA Dictionary of Psychology

a four-part categorization of individuals with alcohol dependence. Type I individuals do not experience cravings when not drinking but develop strong cravings once they start; they experience withdrawal symptoms much sooner in their drinking experiences than do other alcoholics. This type of dependence may be related to anomalies in alcohol metabolism. Type II individuals drink in response to conflict and to self-medicate psychiatric symptoms; they are identified as possibly suffering from low self-esteem. Type III individuals generally have underlying affective disorders and often sleep disorders; they usually have a family history of alcoholism and affective disorders. Type IV individuals have usually experienced either brain trauma or a difficult childhood and have a tendency toward impulsivity. A specific LAT questionnaire is available to determine a person’s type within this classification. [developed by Austrian psychiatrist Otto-Michael Lesch]