- Email: [email protected]
Fundamentals of child psychiatry
798
The Journal of P E D I A T R I C S
November 1960
Books
Leukaemia, Research and Clinical Practice. F. G. J. Hayhoe, M.D., Boston, 1960, Little, Brown & C o m p a n y , 335 pages. Price $16.00. The rising incidence of leukemia together with the multitude of studies of its etiology require that the thoughtful physician look occasionally at the developments in the study of this disease as a possible herald of progress to be forthcoming in relation to other neoplasms. The advent of relatively specific, albeit not curative, forms of effective therapy require a greater familiarity not only with the initial manifestations of leukemia but also with the vagaries of therapy and the changes in Prognosis which have been produced. Dr. Hayhoe has written an excellent book which admirably reviews all the current theories of etiology, the biochemistry of purines, and desoxyribose nucleic acid, and proceeds to a comprehensive summary of therapy and to a discussion of the specific types of leukemia. The portion of the book which discusses the specific types of leukemia includes descriptions not only of the manifestations and cellular morphology, but also, through illustrative case reports and charts, outlines the therapy which is recommended and the responses which may be anticipated from such therapy. This section is most comprehensively written and should be of value to many who see this illness only rarely. There are enough specific references to children to make clear the difference between leukemia in the adult and the child; even the work of Bozeman and associates regarding the emotional responses of the parents to the onslaught of leukemia in a child is covered. Some sections of this book, particularly those concerned with etiology, may be read with profit by all physicians and the entire book should be valuable to anyone concerned with the treatment of leukemia. There are illustrations of good quality in both color and black and white, as might be anticipated, and the bibliography is quite comprehensive for those who wish to refer to original observations. A, E. 2~r E L F R E S H ~ M.D.
Fundamentals of Child Psychiatry. Stuart M. Finch, M.D., New York, 1960, W. W. N o r t o n and Company, 334 pages. Price $5.95. The Department of Psychiatry of Temple University School of Medicine has produced some of the most useful books in child psychiatry. Emotional Problems o[ Living by English and Pearson, published in 1945, was the first of this series. Dr. Finch, formerly with the Temple group and now Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Children's Psychiatric Hospital, University of Michigan Medical School, has added a valuable companion volume to this series. His book presents in a very readable style the substance of modern clinical practice of child psychiatry. Case histories are liberally used to illustrate points. Throughout the book the reader is looking over the shoulder of the child psychiatrist as he conducts his diagnostic study, outlines a treatment plan, and carries it out. The use of the clinical psychiatric team, as well as individuals in the child's daily life, in treatment programs is clearly brought out. Dr. Finch also makes it clear that the child psychiatrist is concerned with a wide variety of children, including those with psychosomatic disorders, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and other handicapping conditions. He dispels the notion that child psychiatry is simply concerned with children with neurotic and behavior disorders. He includes a very useful and succinct chapter on psychotic reactions of childhood. This volume is not addressed to the child psychiatry resident or the practicing child psychiatrist. It is not an encyclopedia of child psychiatry. It is particularly addressed to the medical student and the pediatrician who want a simple, basic, yet comprehensive book on child psychiatry, as well as to young psychologists, social workers, and educational specialists. The reviewer hopes that in subsequent editions material will be included which outlines the place of child psychiatry within the framework of community health services, the relationship of such clinics to the private psychiatrist, the family
Volume 57
Number 5
physician, the public school, the well child conference, and the various public and private'social agencies. The practicing child psychiatrist today plays an important role in community programs of mental health education and consultation. In many instances he has taken leadership in this public health-mental health work. A chapter on this aspect of his professional role will round out the picture. WARREN T. VAUGHAN, J R , M.D.
The Child in Hospital. Hedley G. Dimock, Philadelphia, 1960, F. A. Davis C o m p a n y , 236 pages. Price $4.50. This book presents a comprehensive discussion of the nonmedical care of children in hospitals; it also contains an excellent bibliography on the psychosocial problems and management of the sick, hospitalized child. Although there has been a need for this kind of material, from the point of view of the pediatrician, there are various shortcomings in this presentation because the doctor's role in meeting the emotional needs of hospitalized children is barely touched upon and the focus is entirely on the combined efforts of the paramedical hospital staff. This is unfortunate because many of the statements concerning the needs of the child in the hospital would be useful to the physician and medical student as well as to other personnel. It is my impression, however, that most physicians would be impatient with a presentation of this length which appears to relate to their functions only indirectly. For nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, recreational workers, educators, and all others concerned with the day-to-day management of hospitalized children, I would highly recommend this work. There are good sections on the role of the parents in the child's hospital experience with a wholesome viewpoint on the positive contributions that the parents can make to the child's hospitalization and a flexible outlook on such problems as visiting hours, preparation for hospitalization, home care, etc. There is a good discussion on the way that children can be grouped on hospital wards and in recreational
Books
799
activity so as to make the hospital experience constructive for the child. There is also a pertinent discussion of interstaff relationships in the hospital as they affect the hospitalized child as well as the staff members themselves. The author clearly has a special interest in group techniques, group interaction, and the therapeutic use of group work and this pervades .her discussions of many facets of hospital experience. The weakest section of the book is the introduction in which Miss Dimock attempts to summarize her general philosophy and give a brief outline of child development to serve as the basis for subsequent discussions. I n this section, she has attempted to cover a great deal of territory and, consequently, deals rather cavalierly with such complicated concepts as the child's need for a feeling of trust, rejection of children by their parents, etc. In summary then, The Child in Hospital represents a thorough and detailed discussion of all aspects of the hospital milieu, the child's reaction to the hospital experience, the special needs of the hospitalized child, and how these can be met by the various members of the interdisciplinary staff active on a children's ward. All professional workers as well as volunteers concerned with the care of the hospitalized child could profit from reading this work. Many physicians actively involved in the administration, organization, or conduct of children's hospitals would also profit from certain portions of the book, but would probably find it a little too long winded and would miss more direct relevance to their own functions in the care of the child. For example, the simplified discussion of the functions of the psychologist or of the nature of play therapy for children would be of no interest to physicians nor would the physician be concerned with the detailed discussion of the activities of the group leader in pediatric recreation. In contrast, the section on parents' role in the child's hospital experience would be very helpful for many pediatricians. To end on a lighter note, there is in this book a lovely quotation from a child subjected to the routine, old-fashioned kind of occuPational therapy, "Here I sit at a great big loom, making God knows what for God knows whom." BARBARA KORSCH$ M.D.
The Journal of P E D I A T R I C S
November 1960
Books
Leukaemia, Research and Clinical Practice. F. G. J. Hayhoe, M.D., Boston, 1960, Little, Brown & C o m p a n y , 335 pages. Price $16.00. The rising incidence of leukemia together with the multitude of studies of its etiology require that the thoughtful physician look occasionally at the developments in the study of this disease as a possible herald of progress to be forthcoming in relation to other neoplasms. The advent of relatively specific, albeit not curative, forms of effective therapy require a greater familiarity not only with the initial manifestations of leukemia but also with the vagaries of therapy and the changes in Prognosis which have been produced. Dr. Hayhoe has written an excellent book which admirably reviews all the current theories of etiology, the biochemistry of purines, and desoxyribose nucleic acid, and proceeds to a comprehensive summary of therapy and to a discussion of the specific types of leukemia. The portion of the book which discusses the specific types of leukemia includes descriptions not only of the manifestations and cellular morphology, but also, through illustrative case reports and charts, outlines the therapy which is recommended and the responses which may be anticipated from such therapy. This section is most comprehensively written and should be of value to many who see this illness only rarely. There are enough specific references to children to make clear the difference between leukemia in the adult and the child; even the work of Bozeman and associates regarding the emotional responses of the parents to the onslaught of leukemia in a child is covered. Some sections of this book, particularly those concerned with etiology, may be read with profit by all physicians and the entire book should be valuable to anyone concerned with the treatment of leukemia. There are illustrations of good quality in both color and black and white, as might be anticipated, and the bibliography is quite comprehensive for those who wish to refer to original observations. A, E. 2~r E L F R E S H ~ M.D.
Fundamentals of Child Psychiatry. Stuart M. Finch, M.D., New York, 1960, W. W. N o r t o n and Company, 334 pages. Price $5.95. The Department of Psychiatry of Temple University School of Medicine has produced some of the most useful books in child psychiatry. Emotional Problems o[ Living by English and Pearson, published in 1945, was the first of this series. Dr. Finch, formerly with the Temple group and now Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Children's Psychiatric Hospital, University of Michigan Medical School, has added a valuable companion volume to this series. His book presents in a very readable style the substance of modern clinical practice of child psychiatry. Case histories are liberally used to illustrate points. Throughout the book the reader is looking over the shoulder of the child psychiatrist as he conducts his diagnostic study, outlines a treatment plan, and carries it out. The use of the clinical psychiatric team, as well as individuals in the child's daily life, in treatment programs is clearly brought out. Dr. Finch also makes it clear that the child psychiatrist is concerned with a wide variety of children, including those with psychosomatic disorders, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and other handicapping conditions. He dispels the notion that child psychiatry is simply concerned with children with neurotic and behavior disorders. He includes a very useful and succinct chapter on psychotic reactions of childhood. This volume is not addressed to the child psychiatry resident or the practicing child psychiatrist. It is not an encyclopedia of child psychiatry. It is particularly addressed to the medical student and the pediatrician who want a simple, basic, yet comprehensive book on child psychiatry, as well as to young psychologists, social workers, and educational specialists. The reviewer hopes that in subsequent editions material will be included which outlines the place of child psychiatry within the framework of community health services, the relationship of such clinics to the private psychiatrist, the family
Volume 57
Number 5
physician, the public school, the well child conference, and the various public and private'social agencies. The practicing child psychiatrist today plays an important role in community programs of mental health education and consultation. In many instances he has taken leadership in this public health-mental health work. A chapter on this aspect of his professional role will round out the picture. WARREN T. VAUGHAN, J R , M.D.
The Child in Hospital. Hedley G. Dimock, Philadelphia, 1960, F. A. Davis C o m p a n y , 236 pages. Price $4.50. This book presents a comprehensive discussion of the nonmedical care of children in hospitals; it also contains an excellent bibliography on the psychosocial problems and management of the sick, hospitalized child. Although there has been a need for this kind of material, from the point of view of the pediatrician, there are various shortcomings in this presentation because the doctor's role in meeting the emotional needs of hospitalized children is barely touched upon and the focus is entirely on the combined efforts of the paramedical hospital staff. This is unfortunate because many of the statements concerning the needs of the child in the hospital would be useful to the physician and medical student as well as to other personnel. It is my impression, however, that most physicians would be impatient with a presentation of this length which appears to relate to their functions only indirectly. For nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, recreational workers, educators, and all others concerned with the day-to-day management of hospitalized children, I would highly recommend this work. There are good sections on the role of the parents in the child's hospital experience with a wholesome viewpoint on the positive contributions that the parents can make to the child's hospitalization and a flexible outlook on such problems as visiting hours, preparation for hospitalization, home care, etc. There is a good discussion on the way that children can be grouped on hospital wards and in recreational
Books
799
activity so as to make the hospital experience constructive for the child. There is also a pertinent discussion of interstaff relationships in the hospital as they affect the hospitalized child as well as the staff members themselves. The author clearly has a special interest in group techniques, group interaction, and the therapeutic use of group work and this pervades .her discussions of many facets of hospital experience. The weakest section of the book is the introduction in which Miss Dimock attempts to summarize her general philosophy and give a brief outline of child development to serve as the basis for subsequent discussions. I n this section, she has attempted to cover a great deal of territory and, consequently, deals rather cavalierly with such complicated concepts as the child's need for a feeling of trust, rejection of children by their parents, etc. In summary then, The Child in Hospital represents a thorough and detailed discussion of all aspects of the hospital milieu, the child's reaction to the hospital experience, the special needs of the hospitalized child, and how these can be met by the various members of the interdisciplinary staff active on a children's ward. All professional workers as well as volunteers concerned with the care of the hospitalized child could profit from reading this work. Many physicians actively involved in the administration, organization, or conduct of children's hospitals would also profit from certain portions of the book, but would probably find it a little too long winded and would miss more direct relevance to their own functions in the care of the child. For example, the simplified discussion of the functions of the psychologist or of the nature of play therapy for children would be of no interest to physicians nor would the physician be concerned with the detailed discussion of the activities of the group leader in pediatric recreation. In contrast, the section on parents' role in the child's hospital experience would be very helpful for many pediatricians. To end on a lighter note, there is in this book a lovely quotation from a child subjected to the routine, old-fashioned kind of occuPational therapy, "Here I sit at a great big loom, making God knows what for God knows whom." BARBARA KORSCH$ M.D.