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Contemporary psychotherapies
212
Book reviews
proceedings of the conference, but it is equivalent to a small textbook and perhaps would have been better if presented as such. The discussions, often padded with wearisome, circumstantial and random comments, could have been omitted. A more adequate index would have been helpful. The format of the book would be improved with larger print and a hard cover. The contributions are of high quality, and the book offers a wide scope to those who wish to acquaint themselves with the position of genetics in medicine today. In recent years new technical developments have brought about a shift of emphasis in medical genetics. Break-through in cytological and biochemical technique has opened up possibilities of entirely new lines of research. Accordingly, fresh findings of clinical significance that could not have been envisaged previously have come to light. The general interest in these is reflected by the space allotted to them in the weekly medical journals, but it is perhaps still difficult for the clinician to get a total grasp of the re-orientation of medical genetics and its meaning in practical terms by piecemeal reading. This book provides wide coverage of those areas in clinical genetics in which important recent progress has been made. It contains an excellent section on chromosomal aberrations in which the contributors make clear the first principles of which the clinician may well wish to be informed. Biochemical genetics could have been more fully represented in view of the broad advance that is being made on this front. Interesting, though specific, examples of the genetics of certain inborn errors of metabolism (Professor Dent), drug sensitivity (Professor Harris), resistant rickets (Dr. Burnett) and the abnormal haemoglobins (Dr. Lehmann) serve to show the kind of approach that has superseded older methods. A short though concise resume of methods in psychiatric genetics by Eliot Slater precedes the exposition of his own monogenic theory for schizophrenia. This contribution demonstrates particularly well past trends that have led to the refinement of modern genetical theory when applied to clinical data. Genetical aspects of neurology are very well represented by contributions from R. T. C. Pratt and J. N. Walton. Although conditions associated with mental subnormality are discussed here and elsewhere in the book, a separate section devoted to this important field in medical genetics would have gathered together many loose ends. VALERIECOWIE
R. M. CHERNIACKand L. CHERNIACK: Respiration
Philadelphia
and London.
in Health and Disease. 1961. Pp. xii + 403. 73s. 6d.
W. B. Saunders Co.,
IT IS not always easy for psychiatrists working in relative isolation from the physician or surgeon to remain conversant with the somatic aspects of the disorders he may be studying. He may, indeed, regard psychosomatic medicine, or research, as only possible when he is a member of a team of experts, and able to resign all responsibility for the somatic aspects of his patients to his medical, surgical, or physiological colleagues. But although the team concept is of great importance, if psychosomatic medicine is to be the holistic discipline it claims to be, then the patient can only be handled by one man, and not by a team. And that one man, whether psychiatrist, internist or surgeon, must be conversant with all aspects of the disorder in question. It is a book such as this which will be of particular value to this individual-when any respiratory condition is under examination. The authors, two Canadian brothers, both chest physicians, one of them with a background of research into respiratory function, are thoroughly conversant with the field of respiration; they are also very well served by a skilled medical artist, whose simple and easily understood diagrams are amongst the best I have seen. The result is an excellent account of respiratory function in health and disease, neither so technical as to be discouraging, nor so simple as to be of use largely to the medical student. The physician who practises the psychosomatic approach, and the research worker too, will find a great deal to help them here. The book is well produced and reasonably priced. DENB LEIGH
Contemporary
Psychotherapies.
Edited by MORRISI. STEIN,The Free Press, U.S.A., pp. 386. 58s. 6d.
THISbook contains a series of 20 lectures sponsored by the Department
of Psychology at the University of Chicago during 1958 and 1959. They were given by 10 leading psychotherapists belonging to different schools. Each therapist gave a theoretical lecture and another lecture in which questions of therapy of his particular school were discussed. It is impossible to give an abstract of the content of
213
Book reviews
such a book. The list of the contributors and of the subjects of their lectures give some indication of the varietv to be found in the book; all who are interested in psychotherapy will profit from reading it. Morrh I. Stein: Introduction. The role of influence in psychotherapy. Jerome D. Frank : Therapy in a group setting. The Adlerian approach to psychodynamics. Rudolf Dreikurs : The Adlerian approach to therapy. The characteristics of a helping relationship. Carl R. Rogers: A tentative scale for the measurement of process in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy in reference to the schizophrenic reaction. Otto Allen Will, Jr.: Comments on the psychotherapeutic intervention. A transactional model for psychotherapy. Roy R. Grinker: A demonstration of the transactional model. Nathan W. Ackerman: Emergence of family psychotherapy on the present scene. Further comments on family psychotherapy. Interactional psychotherapy. Don D. Jackson: Family therapy in the family of the schizophrenic. Rollo May: The context of psychotherapy. Aaron Karush : Adaptational psychodynamics. Reparative psychotherapy and adaptational theory. Arthur A. Miller: A survey of the development and evolution of psychoanalytic treatment. A demonstration of psychoanalytic therapy. A. JORES
ROBERT M. GRAY
and DAVID 0. MOBERG: The Church and the Older Person. Publishing Company, Michigan, 1962. pp. 162, $3.50.
William B. Eerdmans
is chronologically “up in years ” is the olderpkrson and the church a term applied to any sect of Christianity, to Judaism or to an organized group of religious adherents whatever their tenets. Each of the authors is a Professor of Sociology and their aim is to describe the place of the church in the lives of American citizens. Personal adjustment in old age, we read, is facilitated by the friendships established with other church people. Negative emotions such as fear of the future, of death, poverty, loneliness and resentment, produce tension and apprehension. By providing positive emotions the church contributes to health and happiness. But apparently there is no evidence to support this hypothesis. Nevertheless the church is (or should be) organized to prepare its members for the hazards and opportunities of old age. Those concerned with the habits of Americans will here discover why older people go to church or stay at home; but little will be learnt of the aims and objects of the churches for, surprisingly, this item has been omitted. E. A. BENNET ONE WHO
F. H.
GEORGE: The Brain as a Computer.
IN THIS book
Pergamon Press, 1961. 410 pp. 63s.
principles of cybernetics are outlined and related to behaviour, the brain being regarded as if it was a computer-type control system. The value of computers and servo-systems is stressed because models can be built which can be programmed to learn, perceive and, by extension, to think. Modern computers have circuits which are relatively simple in plan, and complex only by virtue of the large number of relays or 2-way switches. One of the fundamental points of cybernetics is that the neurone can be regarded as a form of 2-way switch. The model preferred is the finite automaton defined as a stimulus-response system which can involve representation of the previous stimulus states of the system. The models are pre-wired. The logical net type of finite automaton is dealt with in most detail and used for comparisons between models couched in neurophysiological terms and logical net equivalents. Their advantages are that they can be given mathematical and axiomatic expression, are dependent on computer design and communication theory, and represent the syntheses most immediately applicable to biological ends. Contemporary problems in cybernetics are outlined, including the needs for a universal computer language and to find inexpensive units out of which large scale special-purpose computers can be assembled.
Book reviews
proceedings of the conference, but it is equivalent to a small textbook and perhaps would have been better if presented as such. The discussions, often padded with wearisome, circumstantial and random comments, could have been omitted. A more adequate index would have been helpful. The format of the book would be improved with larger print and a hard cover. The contributions are of high quality, and the book offers a wide scope to those who wish to acquaint themselves with the position of genetics in medicine today. In recent years new technical developments have brought about a shift of emphasis in medical genetics. Break-through in cytological and biochemical technique has opened up possibilities of entirely new lines of research. Accordingly, fresh findings of clinical significance that could not have been envisaged previously have come to light. The general interest in these is reflected by the space allotted to them in the weekly medical journals, but it is perhaps still difficult for the clinician to get a total grasp of the re-orientation of medical genetics and its meaning in practical terms by piecemeal reading. This book provides wide coverage of those areas in clinical genetics in which important recent progress has been made. It contains an excellent section on chromosomal aberrations in which the contributors make clear the first principles of which the clinician may well wish to be informed. Biochemical genetics could have been more fully represented in view of the broad advance that is being made on this front. Interesting, though specific, examples of the genetics of certain inborn errors of metabolism (Professor Dent), drug sensitivity (Professor Harris), resistant rickets (Dr. Burnett) and the abnormal haemoglobins (Dr. Lehmann) serve to show the kind of approach that has superseded older methods. A short though concise resume of methods in psychiatric genetics by Eliot Slater precedes the exposition of his own monogenic theory for schizophrenia. This contribution demonstrates particularly well past trends that have led to the refinement of modern genetical theory when applied to clinical data. Genetical aspects of neurology are very well represented by contributions from R. T. C. Pratt and J. N. Walton. Although conditions associated with mental subnormality are discussed here and elsewhere in the book, a separate section devoted to this important field in medical genetics would have gathered together many loose ends. VALERIECOWIE
R. M. CHERNIACKand L. CHERNIACK: Respiration
Philadelphia
and London.
in Health and Disease. 1961. Pp. xii + 403. 73s. 6d.
W. B. Saunders Co.,
IT IS not always easy for psychiatrists working in relative isolation from the physician or surgeon to remain conversant with the somatic aspects of the disorders he may be studying. He may, indeed, regard psychosomatic medicine, or research, as only possible when he is a member of a team of experts, and able to resign all responsibility for the somatic aspects of his patients to his medical, surgical, or physiological colleagues. But although the team concept is of great importance, if psychosomatic medicine is to be the holistic discipline it claims to be, then the patient can only be handled by one man, and not by a team. And that one man, whether psychiatrist, internist or surgeon, must be conversant with all aspects of the disorder in question. It is a book such as this which will be of particular value to this individual-when any respiratory condition is under examination. The authors, two Canadian brothers, both chest physicians, one of them with a background of research into respiratory function, are thoroughly conversant with the field of respiration; they are also very well served by a skilled medical artist, whose simple and easily understood diagrams are amongst the best I have seen. The result is an excellent account of respiratory function in health and disease, neither so technical as to be discouraging, nor so simple as to be of use largely to the medical student. The physician who practises the psychosomatic approach, and the research worker too, will find a great deal to help them here. The book is well produced and reasonably priced. DENB LEIGH
Contemporary
Psychotherapies.
Edited by MORRISI. STEIN,The Free Press, U.S.A., pp. 386. 58s. 6d.
THISbook contains a series of 20 lectures sponsored by the Department
of Psychology at the University of Chicago during 1958 and 1959. They were given by 10 leading psychotherapists belonging to different schools. Each therapist gave a theoretical lecture and another lecture in which questions of therapy of his particular school were discussed. It is impossible to give an abstract of the content of
213
Book reviews
such a book. The list of the contributors and of the subjects of their lectures give some indication of the varietv to be found in the book; all who are interested in psychotherapy will profit from reading it. Morrh I. Stein: Introduction. The role of influence in psychotherapy. Jerome D. Frank : Therapy in a group setting. The Adlerian approach to psychodynamics. Rudolf Dreikurs : The Adlerian approach to therapy. The characteristics of a helping relationship. Carl R. Rogers: A tentative scale for the measurement of process in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy in reference to the schizophrenic reaction. Otto Allen Will, Jr.: Comments on the psychotherapeutic intervention. A transactional model for psychotherapy. Roy R. Grinker: A demonstration of the transactional model. Nathan W. Ackerman: Emergence of family psychotherapy on the present scene. Further comments on family psychotherapy. Interactional psychotherapy. Don D. Jackson: Family therapy in the family of the schizophrenic. Rollo May: The context of psychotherapy. Aaron Karush : Adaptational psychodynamics. Reparative psychotherapy and adaptational theory. Arthur A. Miller: A survey of the development and evolution of psychoanalytic treatment. A demonstration of psychoanalytic therapy. A. JORES
ROBERT M. GRAY
and DAVID 0. MOBERG: The Church and the Older Person. Publishing Company, Michigan, 1962. pp. 162, $3.50.
William B. Eerdmans
is chronologically “up in years ” is the olderpkrson and the church a term applied to any sect of Christianity, to Judaism or to an organized group of religious adherents whatever their tenets. Each of the authors is a Professor of Sociology and their aim is to describe the place of the church in the lives of American citizens. Personal adjustment in old age, we read, is facilitated by the friendships established with other church people. Negative emotions such as fear of the future, of death, poverty, loneliness and resentment, produce tension and apprehension. By providing positive emotions the church contributes to health and happiness. But apparently there is no evidence to support this hypothesis. Nevertheless the church is (or should be) organized to prepare its members for the hazards and opportunities of old age. Those concerned with the habits of Americans will here discover why older people go to church or stay at home; but little will be learnt of the aims and objects of the churches for, surprisingly, this item has been omitted. E. A. BENNET ONE WHO
F. H.
GEORGE: The Brain as a Computer.
IN THIS book
Pergamon Press, 1961. 410 pp. 63s.
principles of cybernetics are outlined and related to behaviour, the brain being regarded as if it was a computer-type control system. The value of computers and servo-systems is stressed because models can be built which can be programmed to learn, perceive and, by extension, to think. Modern computers have circuits which are relatively simple in plan, and complex only by virtue of the large number of relays or 2-way switches. One of the fundamental points of cybernetics is that the neurone can be regarded as a form of 2-way switch. The model preferred is the finite automaton defined as a stimulus-response system which can involve representation of the previous stimulus states of the system. The models are pre-wired. The logical net type of finite automaton is dealt with in most detail and used for comparisons between models couched in neurophysiological terms and logical net equivalents. Their advantages are that they can be given mathematical and axiomatic expression, are dependent on computer design and communication theory, and represent the syntheses most immediately applicable to biological ends. Contemporary problems in cybernetics are outlined, including the needs for a universal computer language and to find inexpensive units out of which large scale special-purpose computers can be assembled.