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Basic forensic psychiatry
Behar. Rex Ther. Vol. 2-l. k‘io. 5. pp. 585-591. 1989 Pergamon Press plc. Printed in Great Britain
BOOK M.
FAULK: Basic Fmw~sic Psychiatry.
REVIEWS
Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1988). vi + 349 pages. f 17.50.
This brief introduction to the growing topic of forensic psychiatry will be welcomed by trainee psychiatrists and other professionals. Single author books have the advantages of internal consistency, a feeling of actually getting to know a teacher and his methods, and readability. This book certainly has the latter, for the style is lucid. It also gives the reader an idea of how Dr Faulk works. His case histories are interesting and his emphasis on ensuring that symptoms of illness are not dismissed in the context of a difficult, dangerous or otherwise undesirable patient (e.g. p. 275) is to be welcomed. Unfortunately the author does not go far enough down this road to satisfy readers of this journal, for he does not sufficiently emphasise how much can actually be done by psychological treatments for patients who are not ‘ill’ but ‘only disordered’. For those who want a quick guide to a few key references, a clear exposition of the English Mental Health Act, and a work of revision for an examination, this is a book to buy. However, they should be warned that it will not travel very easily (e.g. to the U.S.A. or Australia), and it is a bit thin on academic debate; for example it is asserted that unfeeling sex offenders are the ones most likely to report being victimised as children. thus without discussion or references. Indeed the whole chapter on sexual deviations could be better. Is it really true that cross dressing to relieve tension after a bad day at the office is a non-erotic ordinary activity? Short books obviously have to leave a lot out, but the choice of inclusions and exclusions is a little odd in places. The hoary irrelevant triad of fire-setting, enuresis and cruelty to animals is in (p. 268). but the important work on dangerousness by Floud and Young is out. Battered wives get a wrongly indexed one line, not even Faulk’s own 1974 paper on wife beaters is mentioned! However, the relatively unusual problem of unfitness to plead is covered twice. (pp. 43 and IIS). Those who want an overview of what contemporary English forensic psychiatry is about, in an easily digestible form, should use this book. They will have to probe a lot further into the literature to pursue most of the topics raised, but the title is unpretentious. Examination candidates will not be disappointed. JOHNGUN?4
MARTIN HERBERT:Working wirh Children und Their Families. The British Psychological Society, Leicester and Routledge, London (1988). xiv + 226 pages. Hardback f 12.95; Paperback f4.95.
This book, part of the series Psychology in Action, is written for professionals who have a family-based approach to working with the problems of children and adolescents. It is largely concerned with the personal relationships and interactions which occur within the family, the problems to which they commonly give rise, and psychosocial approaches to the assessment and treatment of these difficulties. The book has advantages over other literature concerned with family work with children and adolescents. Although written principally from a behavioural and developmental perspective, the author does not ignore other theoretical approaches: a variety of treatment procedures are detailed most helpfully. Throughout the book, the links between theory and practice are skillfully balanced by the appropriate use of illustrative case material. Flow-charts, checklists and proformas provide clear and helpful guidelines on the assessment and monitoring of interventions. Each chapter is rounded off with a concise summary and comments section and, to prevent cluttering up the text, references and citations are collected together at the end of the book with an added section on further reading. The book is divided into three parts, covering 12 chapters, and has a number of appendices. Part 1 is titled ‘Getting to Grips with Problems’. It introduces the reader to the many difficulties typically experienced by parents and children. It provides clear guidance for their assessment, and outlines a number of explanatory models to assist in the formulation of causes. Part 2, entitled ‘Development and Change’, covers three main areas: facts and theories about childhood and adolescence; the special life-tasks and problems associated with each stage of development; and topical themes such as responsiveness in parents and children, bonding, loss and change. As its title suggests (You the Helper), Part 3 deals with issues and techniques concerned with intervention. The appendices contain, amongst other things, a parent training programme and, regarding child abuse, a case vignette and detailed treatment options. This book is practical, readable and has multidisciplinary appeal. It merits space on an experienced clinician’s shelf as an invaluable manual and source of reference. For professionals in training, it is likely to prove a boon companion. SONIA R.
K. D. O’LEARY (Ed.): Assessmenf of Marital Discord-An Hillsdale, N.J. (1987). xii + 379 pages. f27.50.
M.
GATZANIS
Integrak_vt for Research and Clinical Practice. Lawrence Erlbaum,
The field of marital therapy (or, as it tends to be called in 1989, couple therapy) is a fast-growing one, and the related field of marital (or relationship) assessment is developing at an equal rate. There is, however, quite a wide gap between the two, and many therapists seem quite unaware of the research being carried out on the nature and assessment of marriage and 585
BOOK M.
FAULK: Basic Fmw~sic Psychiatry.
REVIEWS
Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1988). vi + 349 pages. f 17.50.
This brief introduction to the growing topic of forensic psychiatry will be welcomed by trainee psychiatrists and other professionals. Single author books have the advantages of internal consistency, a feeling of actually getting to know a teacher and his methods, and readability. This book certainly has the latter, for the style is lucid. It also gives the reader an idea of how Dr Faulk works. His case histories are interesting and his emphasis on ensuring that symptoms of illness are not dismissed in the context of a difficult, dangerous or otherwise undesirable patient (e.g. p. 275) is to be welcomed. Unfortunately the author does not go far enough down this road to satisfy readers of this journal, for he does not sufficiently emphasise how much can actually be done by psychological treatments for patients who are not ‘ill’ but ‘only disordered’. For those who want a quick guide to a few key references, a clear exposition of the English Mental Health Act, and a work of revision for an examination, this is a book to buy. However, they should be warned that it will not travel very easily (e.g. to the U.S.A. or Australia), and it is a bit thin on academic debate; for example it is asserted that unfeeling sex offenders are the ones most likely to report being victimised as children. thus without discussion or references. Indeed the whole chapter on sexual deviations could be better. Is it really true that cross dressing to relieve tension after a bad day at the office is a non-erotic ordinary activity? Short books obviously have to leave a lot out, but the choice of inclusions and exclusions is a little odd in places. The hoary irrelevant triad of fire-setting, enuresis and cruelty to animals is in (p. 268). but the important work on dangerousness by Floud and Young is out. Battered wives get a wrongly indexed one line, not even Faulk’s own 1974 paper on wife beaters is mentioned! However, the relatively unusual problem of unfitness to plead is covered twice. (pp. 43 and IIS). Those who want an overview of what contemporary English forensic psychiatry is about, in an easily digestible form, should use this book. They will have to probe a lot further into the literature to pursue most of the topics raised, but the title is unpretentious. Examination candidates will not be disappointed. JOHNGUN?4
MARTIN HERBERT:Working wirh Children und Their Families. The British Psychological Society, Leicester and Routledge, London (1988). xiv + 226 pages. Hardback f 12.95; Paperback f4.95.
This book, part of the series Psychology in Action, is written for professionals who have a family-based approach to working with the problems of children and adolescents. It is largely concerned with the personal relationships and interactions which occur within the family, the problems to which they commonly give rise, and psychosocial approaches to the assessment and treatment of these difficulties. The book has advantages over other literature concerned with family work with children and adolescents. Although written principally from a behavioural and developmental perspective, the author does not ignore other theoretical approaches: a variety of treatment procedures are detailed most helpfully. Throughout the book, the links between theory and practice are skillfully balanced by the appropriate use of illustrative case material. Flow-charts, checklists and proformas provide clear and helpful guidelines on the assessment and monitoring of interventions. Each chapter is rounded off with a concise summary and comments section and, to prevent cluttering up the text, references and citations are collected together at the end of the book with an added section on further reading. The book is divided into three parts, covering 12 chapters, and has a number of appendices. Part 1 is titled ‘Getting to Grips with Problems’. It introduces the reader to the many difficulties typically experienced by parents and children. It provides clear guidance for their assessment, and outlines a number of explanatory models to assist in the formulation of causes. Part 2, entitled ‘Development and Change’, covers three main areas: facts and theories about childhood and adolescence; the special life-tasks and problems associated with each stage of development; and topical themes such as responsiveness in parents and children, bonding, loss and change. As its title suggests (You the Helper), Part 3 deals with issues and techniques concerned with intervention. The appendices contain, amongst other things, a parent training programme and, regarding child abuse, a case vignette and detailed treatment options. This book is practical, readable and has multidisciplinary appeal. It merits space on an experienced clinician’s shelf as an invaluable manual and source of reference. For professionals in training, it is likely to prove a boon companion. SONIA R.
K. D. O’LEARY (Ed.): Assessmenf of Marital Discord-An Hillsdale, N.J. (1987). xii + 379 pages. f27.50.
M.
GATZANIS
Integrak_vt for Research and Clinical Practice. Lawrence Erlbaum,
The field of marital therapy (or, as it tends to be called in 1989, couple therapy) is a fast-growing one, and the related field of marital (or relationship) assessment is developing at an equal rate. There is, however, quite a wide gap between the two, and many therapists seem quite unaware of the research being carried out on the nature and assessment of marriage and 585