Predicting the onset of compulsive drinking in alcoholics: a biopsychosocial model.

An attempt is made to develop a formal quantitative model for predicting the conditions under which compulsive drinking will appear in alcoholics. Biological variables are represented by phenomenological concepts as are psychological and social variables. The usefulness of the model in resolving apparent conflict among concepts and empirical findings is explored. Limitations of the model are examined as are further necessary extensions of it in terms of alcoholic subgroups and multiple biopsychosocial models.