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Overcoming depression
Beha~. Res. ?-her. Vol. 20. pp. 415 to 416. 1982 Perpamon Press Ltd. Printed in Great Britain
BOOK
REVIEWS
S. P. SPRINGER and G. DEUTSCH:Left Brain Righr Brain. Freeman, San Francisco (1981). xii + 243 pp. 64.95 (paperback); E10.70 (hardback).
This is an introductory, clearly written, text describing the differences in function and structure of the left and right cerebral hemispheres. The book examines, after a brief historical review, split-brain research, results from left banders, sex-differCIXXS in symmetry of function, developmental aspects, animal research and the effects of brain damage, At all times the emphasis is upon simplicity of presentation, with welt organized accounts of classic work and important studies, and with many useful illustrations. The reference list is fairly brief, since the authors choose to describe a few things well rather than to make passing references to a more diffuse body of research. Springer and Deutsch have. therefore, managed to produce a book that the undergraduate student can readily come to grips with. I think such undergraduates would also find it a pleasant introduction to, or appetizer for. neurcosychology as a whole. As for more advanced students, it does not seem to have quite sufficient depth or breadth of coverage to satisfy their requirements, but then this was not the authors’ intention. OveraIl. a very good book Indeed lor the newcomer to neuropsychology. GRAHAMPOWELL
ANDREWSTANWAY:Overcoming Depression. Hamlyn Paperbacks, London (1981). 240 pp. f 1.50. Popular guides for the depressed and their families appear at the rate of one every year or so. Stanway’s new addition to the genre will probably last longer than most seem to. As a former practitioner, he is well aware of the questions sufferers and their families might wish to know the answers to and also aware that most will have neither the time nor the opportunity to have their questions answered. Accordingly, much of the book consists of extended and authoritative answers to people’s questions, on topics as diverse as “what to do when your depressed relative won’t eat” and “why go into hospital?’ in addition to answers to specific questions, Stanway also gives the reader a cogent summary of contemporary knowledge on the nature, causes, recognition and treatment of the condition. His coverage of recent studies includes the ones that might be expected, but also some pleasant suprises. such as Grad’s work on the mysterious negative energy given off by the depressed and my own research on socially-transmitted ‘recipes’ for dealing with depression in everyday life. In his discussion of possible causes of depression, he is unique amongst authors of similar books in acknowledging the possibility that in some people the condition may result from allergy to or intolerance of common foods, though he warns the reader that this open-mindedness is not yet common amongst psychiatrists. In summary. this book could be warmly recommended to patients who are not too ill to read and their families and it would probably also make useful reading for trainees in clinical psychology and other disciplines. who preliminary knowledge of this common and complex condition is likely to be either relatively scant or relatively academic. VICKY RIPPERE
BRIAN TAYLOR
(Ed.): Persprctires on ~aed~p~~~ja.Batsford Academic & Educational, London (1981). xxii + 148
pp. fi4.95. People have strong feelings about paedophilia. Unfortunately, the stronger the feeling, the less they seem to know about the problem. so any book whtch explores the subject. and makes people question their assumptions can only be of value. The bonus with this set of essays. is their simple very readable presentation. which gives a comprehenstve review of the various aspects of the subject. Each author keeps to his designated area with overlapping only occurrmg between the chapter on Treatment by Yaffe and Punishment by McConville. But this seemed appropriate. as the problem of when treatment is really punishment is an ethical question for the medical profession and the judiciary. A result of trying to get such a broad perspecttve is that the various authors only really present a precis of what they could say with regard to their subject, Cards chapter on the legal perspectives is concise with a short rundown on sentencing policy. Unfortunately sentencing policy is complicated and attempted explanations tend to throw up more questions than answers. Righton. in his chapter on the adult. appears very firmly on the side of the paedophile, debunking the myths about them. Unfortunately he tends to make the feelings of ordmary people wrong (i.e. their repugnance) by an 41.5
BOOK
REVIEWS
S. P. SPRINGER and G. DEUTSCH:Left Brain Righr Brain. Freeman, San Francisco (1981). xii + 243 pp. 64.95 (paperback); E10.70 (hardback).
This is an introductory, clearly written, text describing the differences in function and structure of the left and right cerebral hemispheres. The book examines, after a brief historical review, split-brain research, results from left banders, sex-differCIXXS in symmetry of function, developmental aspects, animal research and the effects of brain damage, At all times the emphasis is upon simplicity of presentation, with welt organized accounts of classic work and important studies, and with many useful illustrations. The reference list is fairly brief, since the authors choose to describe a few things well rather than to make passing references to a more diffuse body of research. Springer and Deutsch have. therefore, managed to produce a book that the undergraduate student can readily come to grips with. I think such undergraduates would also find it a pleasant introduction to, or appetizer for. neurcosychology as a whole. As for more advanced students, it does not seem to have quite sufficient depth or breadth of coverage to satisfy their requirements, but then this was not the authors’ intention. OveraIl. a very good book Indeed lor the newcomer to neuropsychology. GRAHAMPOWELL
ANDREWSTANWAY:Overcoming Depression. Hamlyn Paperbacks, London (1981). 240 pp. f 1.50. Popular guides for the depressed and their families appear at the rate of one every year or so. Stanway’s new addition to the genre will probably last longer than most seem to. As a former practitioner, he is well aware of the questions sufferers and their families might wish to know the answers to and also aware that most will have neither the time nor the opportunity to have their questions answered. Accordingly, much of the book consists of extended and authoritative answers to people’s questions, on topics as diverse as “what to do when your depressed relative won’t eat” and “why go into hospital?’ in addition to answers to specific questions, Stanway also gives the reader a cogent summary of contemporary knowledge on the nature, causes, recognition and treatment of the condition. His coverage of recent studies includes the ones that might be expected, but also some pleasant suprises. such as Grad’s work on the mysterious negative energy given off by the depressed and my own research on socially-transmitted ‘recipes’ for dealing with depression in everyday life. In his discussion of possible causes of depression, he is unique amongst authors of similar books in acknowledging the possibility that in some people the condition may result from allergy to or intolerance of common foods, though he warns the reader that this open-mindedness is not yet common amongst psychiatrists. In summary. this book could be warmly recommended to patients who are not too ill to read and their families and it would probably also make useful reading for trainees in clinical psychology and other disciplines. who preliminary knowledge of this common and complex condition is likely to be either relatively scant or relatively academic. VICKY RIPPERE
BRIAN TAYLOR
(Ed.): Persprctires on ~aed~p~~~ja.Batsford Academic & Educational, London (1981). xxii + 148
pp. fi4.95. People have strong feelings about paedophilia. Unfortunately, the stronger the feeling, the less they seem to know about the problem. so any book whtch explores the subject. and makes people question their assumptions can only be of value. The bonus with this set of essays. is their simple very readable presentation. which gives a comprehenstve review of the various aspects of the subject. Each author keeps to his designated area with overlapping only occurrmg between the chapter on Treatment by Yaffe and Punishment by McConville. But this seemed appropriate. as the problem of when treatment is really punishment is an ethical question for the medical profession and the judiciary. A result of trying to get such a broad perspecttve is that the various authors only really present a precis of what they could say with regard to their subject, Cards chapter on the legal perspectives is concise with a short rundown on sentencing policy. Unfortunately sentencing policy is complicated and attempted explanations tend to throw up more questions than answers. Righton. in his chapter on the adult. appears very firmly on the side of the paedophile, debunking the myths about them. Unfortunately he tends to make the feelings of ordmary people wrong (i.e. their repugnance) by an 41.5