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Fact and Fiction in Psychology
PSYCHOSOMATICS
FACT AND FICTION IN PsrCHOLOGr. H. j. Eysenck. 300 pages. Baltimore: Penguin Books Inc. 1965. Paperhack, $1.25. A series of psychological experiml'nts are presenll'd to illustrate scientific procedure and control under laboratory conditions. There is an interpolative process in the move from laboratory study of behavior and human psychopathology. Both rats and humans react similarly to trauma. Psychological disorders arc over-reactions bl';Hing the cross of hereditary predisposition. Thl' latlt'r dell'rminl's the excitation-inhibition balance. Neurotics (introverts) and Psychopaths (extroVt'rts) both over-rl'act emotionally. Drugs can alt
AETIOLOGY OF DIABETES MELLITUS AND ITS CO,\lPLICATIONS. Ci/)(/ Foundation Colloquia on Endocrindogy, Volume 15. Edited hy .\largaret P. Cameron a/ld ,\laeL:e O'Connor. 405 pages. Boston: Little, BrolL:n and Company. 1964. $12 ..50. The extradion of insulin and, morl' recently, the discovery of oral hypoglYCl'mic agcnts have changed our eoncl'pt of diabetes mPllitus from an oversimplified one of insulin dl'ficil'ncy to an appreciation and partial understanding of tlw many metabolic factors which arc involved in this complex disordl'r. During the past half century, therl' has been a progressive increase in the amount of highly refined research in this field. "Vith its usual astutt'ness, the Ciba Foundation called togethl'T a group of distinguished scientists to discuss and bring up to date the results of years of study. This book records their formal papers and, what is equally important, their informal discussion. Starting with a detailed study of diabetes in an English village we are, next, treated to an engaging account of the occurrence of diabetes in Chinese hamsters in which a great deal of significant genetic information is dearly presented. The major portion of the book is concerned with insulin, its origin,
196
secretion and action. Considerable space and many fine photographs are employed to describe the changes which take place in the pancreas and beta cells. There is also an extensive discussion of insulin antagonism. The vascular lesions of diabetes and the role of the pituitary are then descrihed and followed by a free wheeling general discussion with closing remarks hy the guest of honor, Dr. C. H. Best. This is not an easy book to read but it is well worth the elfort. It is an excellent basic reference which serves not only to summarize current knowledge but also to indicate where future research may lead.-LEoNARD J. SCHIFF, M.D.
AUTOGENIC TRAINING. INTERNATIONAL EDITION. (In English, French & German). Edited hy Wolfgang Luthe, M.D. 327 pages. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1965. $14.50. This volume was produced in honor of Prof. Johannes Heinrich Schultz on the occasion of his eightieth birthday. It represents the attempt by fifty authors to elaborate those perspectives of clinical application, research and theory of the psychophysiologic method which characterize the present stage of the development of Autogl'nic Training. The editing has been exceptionally well dom' by Dr. Wolfgang Luthe, a close collaborator of Prof. Schultz and an authority on the subject in his own right. The validity of the therapeutic value of Autogenic Training as established by Prof. Schultz in the course of forty years have been confirml'd by impressive clinical results and by various clinical studies of the method during the last fifteen years. Prof. Schultz, hale and hearty at the present time, still continues his observations and writings on the subject. The value of the International Edition is enhanced by authors writing their chapters in the language most suitable to their needs with summaries in English, French and German. One-third of the book is devoted to Theory and R"search consisting of 18 papers by authorities on the subject representing all parts of the world. Dr. Luthe himself is a generous contributor to this section. Another third is devoted to Clinical Application and reflects the use of this method in many countries. The last section deals with International Perspectives with reports from the various European countries as well as reports covering areas such as Latin America, North America and Japan. Clinical and experimental observations have indicated that a person's psychophysiologic state during the practice of Autogenic Standard Exercises differs from the normal state of conscious control, from sleep or hypnosis. These points are well covered and documented in the first section. Readers unfamiliar with the technique will be impressed with the amount of laboratory and clinical research reported. The level of research is of a high standard. The book is handsomely printed on fine paper. The subject index is meticulously complete and helpful. This book should be in the library of everyone who is interested in helping patients with all the knowledge available in this field.-BERNARD B. RAGINSKY, M.D. Volume VII
FACT AND FICTION IN PsrCHOLOGr. H. j. Eysenck. 300 pages. Baltimore: Penguin Books Inc. 1965. Paperhack, $1.25. A series of psychological experiml'nts are presenll'd to illustrate scientific procedure and control under laboratory conditions. There is an interpolative process in the move from laboratory study of behavior and human psychopathology. Both rats and humans react similarly to trauma. Psychological disorders arc over-reactions bl';Hing the cross of hereditary predisposition. Thl' latlt'r dell'rminl's the excitation-inhibition balance. Neurotics (introverts) and Psychopaths (extroVt'rts) both over-rl'act emotionally. Drugs can alt
AETIOLOGY OF DIABETES MELLITUS AND ITS CO,\lPLICATIONS. Ci/)(/ Foundation Colloquia on Endocrindogy, Volume 15. Edited hy .\largaret P. Cameron a/ld ,\laeL:e O'Connor. 405 pages. Boston: Little, BrolL:n and Company. 1964. $12 ..50. The extradion of insulin and, morl' recently, the discovery of oral hypoglYCl'mic agcnts have changed our eoncl'pt of diabetes mPllitus from an oversimplified one of insulin dl'ficil'ncy to an appreciation and partial understanding of tlw many metabolic factors which arc involved in this complex disordl'r. During the past half century, therl' has been a progressive increase in the amount of highly refined research in this field. "Vith its usual astutt'ness, the Ciba Foundation called togethl'T a group of distinguished scientists to discuss and bring up to date the results of years of study. This book records their formal papers and, what is equally important, their informal discussion. Starting with a detailed study of diabetes in an English village we are, next, treated to an engaging account of the occurrence of diabetes in Chinese hamsters in which a great deal of significant genetic information is dearly presented. The major portion of the book is concerned with insulin, its origin,
196
secretion and action. Considerable space and many fine photographs are employed to describe the changes which take place in the pancreas and beta cells. There is also an extensive discussion of insulin antagonism. The vascular lesions of diabetes and the role of the pituitary are then descrihed and followed by a free wheeling general discussion with closing remarks hy the guest of honor, Dr. C. H. Best. This is not an easy book to read but it is well worth the elfort. It is an excellent basic reference which serves not only to summarize current knowledge but also to indicate where future research may lead.-LEoNARD J. SCHIFF, M.D.
AUTOGENIC TRAINING. INTERNATIONAL EDITION. (In English, French & German). Edited hy Wolfgang Luthe, M.D. 327 pages. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1965. $14.50. This volume was produced in honor of Prof. Johannes Heinrich Schultz on the occasion of his eightieth birthday. It represents the attempt by fifty authors to elaborate those perspectives of clinical application, research and theory of the psychophysiologic method which characterize the present stage of the development of Autogl'nic Training. The editing has been exceptionally well dom' by Dr. Wolfgang Luthe, a close collaborator of Prof. Schultz and an authority on the subject in his own right. The validity of the therapeutic value of Autogenic Training as established by Prof. Schultz in the course of forty years have been confirml'd by impressive clinical results and by various clinical studies of the method during the last fifteen years. Prof. Schultz, hale and hearty at the present time, still continues his observations and writings on the subject. The value of the International Edition is enhanced by authors writing their chapters in the language most suitable to their needs with summaries in English, French and German. One-third of the book is devoted to Theory and R"search consisting of 18 papers by authorities on the subject representing all parts of the world. Dr. Luthe himself is a generous contributor to this section. Another third is devoted to Clinical Application and reflects the use of this method in many countries. The last section deals with International Perspectives with reports from the various European countries as well as reports covering areas such as Latin America, North America and Japan. Clinical and experimental observations have indicated that a person's psychophysiologic state during the practice of Autogenic Standard Exercises differs from the normal state of conscious control, from sleep or hypnosis. These points are well covered and documented in the first section. Readers unfamiliar with the technique will be impressed with the amount of laboratory and clinical research reported. The level of research is of a high standard. The book is handsomely printed on fine paper. The subject index is meticulously complete and helpful. This book should be in the library of everyone who is interested in helping patients with all the knowledge available in this field.-BERNARD B. RAGINSKY, M.D. Volume VII