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Handbook of psychiatry 5: The scientific foundations of psychiatry
Journal of Psychosomatic Printed in Great Britain.
Research, Vol. 30, No. 5 pp. 617-619, 1986.
0
C022-3999/86$3.00+00 1986Pergamon Journals Ltd.
BOOK REVIEWS Handbook of Psychiatry 5: The Scientific Foundations University Press, 1985. $17.50.
of Psychiatry.
Edited by M.
SHEPHERD.
Cambridge
A BOOK review [ 1] which slated Volume 4 of this series as too fragmented and too out-of-date dissuaded me from reading that tome. The prospect of reviewing Volume 5 was therefore embarked upon with mixed feelings. A quick perusal of the references to all the chapters (gathered together at the end of the book) showed only a smattering of articles published since 1982 and the prospect of learning about new scientific foundations of psychiatry seemed to dim. Of the ten chapters in this book (divided slightly artificially into four parts) there were three chapters which were particularly rewarding to read. ‘Epidemiology in relation to psychiatry’ by Kreitman had a logical development which made it easy to read while conveying a large amount of information. This was carefully supplemented by well chosen examples illustrating points made. The pitfalls of simplistic interpretations are swiftly dealt with and the need for attention to the validity over and above reliability of standardised instruments used in epidemiological surveys is emphasised. ‘The principles of genetics in relation to psychiatry’ is one of the two multi-author contributions to this book. This chapter dispensed with a historical perspective in a couple of paragraphs, an approach which would have benefited several chapters later in the book (particularly Chapter 10). The authors then proceed to give a detailed scientific basis to genetics which went well beyond the standard contributions in psychiatry texts. The details provided, although at times complex, left one more appreciative of the subtleties in understanding the genetic studies in psychiatry. The impact of new techniques in neurobiology make it likely that this is an area they will rapidly advance in the next decades and many psychiatrists will wish to read this chapter to have a basis into which they will be able to incorporate future developments. These authors have given a clear description, sometimes using examples from other branches of medicine, why, for example, knowledge of the frequency distribution of a particular trait in the general population does not give sufficient information for establishing a mode of inheritance. They also point out apparent anomalies such as lack of evidence to suggest that inbreeding increases the risk of any of the major psychiatric disorders. The most exciting chapter was that entitled ‘General clinical psychology in relation to psychiatry’ by Zubin and co-authors. They provide a wide-ranging and stimulating discussion of the interface between psychology and psychiatry. The authors cite a number of their own references but this comes across as appropriate rather than self-aggrandizement. The sections on ‘triggering of life events’ and ‘the role of social networks in altering stress’ are particularly good succinct accounts of information in these areas. The details of small points within the article may be erroneous in the light of new information, for example the statement that the P300 latency among schizophrenics ‘does not tend to differ from normals’ [2]. This is one chapter that can be unreservedly recommended for both psychiatrists and trainees in psychiatry. Unfortunately the chapter on ‘social science in relation to psychiatry’ only hints at exciting material without going into the substantive issues but the real disappointment in this book comes in the last section on the neurosciences in relation to psychiatry. The chapter on neuroendocrinology comes across as disjointed without any systematic pattern to it. Exciting issues that could have been discussed are omitted. Observations are given the status of explanations and at times the logic seems to be contorted. The chapter on neuropathology avoids a discussion of neurochemistry or imaging techniques which leaves the chapter somewhat sparse and anachronistic. The good chapters in this book are very worthwhile reading but alternative sources should be sought for some of the other areas. COLIN
University
SHAPIRO
of Edinburgh
REFERENCES 1. 2.
Br J Psychiat 1985; 146: 562. D et al. Changes in auditory P3 event-related Br J Psychiut (in press). SNAITH
RP.
BLACKWOOD
617
potential
in schizophrenia
and depression.
Research, Vol. 30, No. 5 pp. 617-619, 1986.
0
C022-3999/86$3.00+00 1986Pergamon Journals Ltd.
BOOK REVIEWS Handbook of Psychiatry 5: The Scientific Foundations University Press, 1985. $17.50.
of Psychiatry.
Edited by M.
SHEPHERD.
Cambridge
A BOOK review [ 1] which slated Volume 4 of this series as too fragmented and too out-of-date dissuaded me from reading that tome. The prospect of reviewing Volume 5 was therefore embarked upon with mixed feelings. A quick perusal of the references to all the chapters (gathered together at the end of the book) showed only a smattering of articles published since 1982 and the prospect of learning about new scientific foundations of psychiatry seemed to dim. Of the ten chapters in this book (divided slightly artificially into four parts) there were three chapters which were particularly rewarding to read. ‘Epidemiology in relation to psychiatry’ by Kreitman had a logical development which made it easy to read while conveying a large amount of information. This was carefully supplemented by well chosen examples illustrating points made. The pitfalls of simplistic interpretations are swiftly dealt with and the need for attention to the validity over and above reliability of standardised instruments used in epidemiological surveys is emphasised. ‘The principles of genetics in relation to psychiatry’ is one of the two multi-author contributions to this book. This chapter dispensed with a historical perspective in a couple of paragraphs, an approach which would have benefited several chapters later in the book (particularly Chapter 10). The authors then proceed to give a detailed scientific basis to genetics which went well beyond the standard contributions in psychiatry texts. The details provided, although at times complex, left one more appreciative of the subtleties in understanding the genetic studies in psychiatry. The impact of new techniques in neurobiology make it likely that this is an area they will rapidly advance in the next decades and many psychiatrists will wish to read this chapter to have a basis into which they will be able to incorporate future developments. These authors have given a clear description, sometimes using examples from other branches of medicine, why, for example, knowledge of the frequency distribution of a particular trait in the general population does not give sufficient information for establishing a mode of inheritance. They also point out apparent anomalies such as lack of evidence to suggest that inbreeding increases the risk of any of the major psychiatric disorders. The most exciting chapter was that entitled ‘General clinical psychology in relation to psychiatry’ by Zubin and co-authors. They provide a wide-ranging and stimulating discussion of the interface between psychology and psychiatry. The authors cite a number of their own references but this comes across as appropriate rather than self-aggrandizement. The sections on ‘triggering of life events’ and ‘the role of social networks in altering stress’ are particularly good succinct accounts of information in these areas. The details of small points within the article may be erroneous in the light of new information, for example the statement that the P300 latency among schizophrenics ‘does not tend to differ from normals’ [2]. This is one chapter that can be unreservedly recommended for both psychiatrists and trainees in psychiatry. Unfortunately the chapter on ‘social science in relation to psychiatry’ only hints at exciting material without going into the substantive issues but the real disappointment in this book comes in the last section on the neurosciences in relation to psychiatry. The chapter on neuroendocrinology comes across as disjointed without any systematic pattern to it. Exciting issues that could have been discussed are omitted. Observations are given the status of explanations and at times the logic seems to be contorted. The chapter on neuropathology avoids a discussion of neurochemistry or imaging techniques which leaves the chapter somewhat sparse and anachronistic. The good chapters in this book are very worthwhile reading but alternative sources should be sought for some of the other areas. COLIN
University
SHAPIRO
of Edinburgh
REFERENCES 1. 2.
Br J Psychiat 1985; 146: 562. D et al. Changes in auditory P3 event-related Br J Psychiut (in press). SNAITH
RP.
BLACKWOOD
617
potential
in schizophrenia
and depression.