Alcoholism is a complex, multidimensional disorder. A variety of typologic approaches have been used to categorize its diverse manifestations (Babor & Lauerman 1986, Hesselbrock & Hesselbrock 2006, Leggio et al. 2009). Although more complex typologies have been proposed, the dichotomous typologies of Cloninger (1987) and Babor et al. (1992) have received considerable research attention, perhaps in part because they can readily be considered as moderators of treatment response. Cloninger (1987) differentiated Type 1 and Type 2 alcoholics using family data from a Swedish adoption study in which the prevalence and characteristics of alcoholism were compared in offspring of biological and adoptive parents with alcoholism. Babor and colleagues (1992) applied an empirical clustering technique to data obtained from alcoholics in treatment to differentiate two homogeneous subtypes: Type A and Type B. Cloninger’s Type 1 alcoholic shares with Babor’s Type A alcoholic a later onset of alcohol-related problems and the absence of antisocial characteristics. Cloninger’s Type 2 alcoholic shares with Babor’s Type B alcoholic an early onset of alcohol-related problems and the presence of antisocial characteristics, particularly when the individual is intoxicated.
