Alcoholism: a review of the interdisciplinary literature published in Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this article is to review the interdisciplinary literature on alcoholism published in Brazil in the last ten years. Alcoholism is a complex phenomenon, which has significatly affected society. Its consequences point to clinical, psychological, psychiatric and social questions. It is estimated that around 10 to 15% of people who drink are in some stage of dependency. Currently there is not a consensus concerning the causes. It has been presented theories based on hypotheses and also some conceptions, which try to identify the causes of alcoholism. The main theories come from the organizational psychiatry, psychology and social-cultural psychology. Among the conceptions presented, it is highlighted in this work the religious cosmovision of a poor Pentecostal community. It is concluded that alcoholism is still a complex phenomenon and that it deserves a careful study of the knowledge areas involved with the aim of brnging about understabding which may contribute to unlock the enigma of this phenomenon.