Mental hospitals at work

Mental hospitals at work

172 Book reviews psychiatrist to ruthlessly prune, and bring up to date some of the sections; then his book might, in 1963, have had as big an impac...

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Book reviews

psychiatrist to ruthlessly prune, and bring up to date some of the sections; then his book might, in 1963, have had as big an impact as it did in its first edition. Every young man starting psychiatry should theoretically read this book, but it is too big, too out of date, and too easy to lose the impetus of its reading for these hopes to be fulfilled. As a classic in the development of psychiatric thought, yes, it must be on our shelves, but as a living, working book, it is doubtful if it serves this purpose in its present shape. The translation is masterly, the print, paper and general production all alike in their excellence. DENIS LEIGH

KARL JASPERS: Gesammelte Sehriften zur Psyehopathologie. Springer, Berlin, 1963. pp. vii .~ 421 DM 36. IN ORDER to mark the eightieth birthday of Karl Jaspers, the firm of Springer have published this collection of his early contributions to psychopathology. These articles were first published between the years 1909 and 1913 and contain the earliest formulations of the ideas which later formed the basis of the famous General Psychopathology. The articles republished include such classic contributions to clinical psychiatry as Homesickness and Crime, Morbid Jealousy and The Analysis of Illusions and Hallucinations. Despite the fact that they were written over fifty years ago, these articles are still of considerable interest to the clinical psychiatrist. Unfortunately even in Germany the journals containing them are not readily accessible, so that the publishers have performed an invaluable service to all German-speaking psychiatrists. This book forms a very useful companion to Jasper's General Psychopathology and should be read by all those interested in the fundamental problems of clinical psychiatry. FRANK FISH

KATHLEEN JONES and Roy SIDEBOTHAM: Mental Hospitals at Work. (International Library of Sociology and Social Reconstruction.) Routledge & Kegan Paul, London, 1962, pp. x + 210. 30s. THIs book sets out to answer the question how can the efficiency of different mental hospitals be compared? As the authors make clear, this is a most complex question but one well worthy of study. It is of particular relevance at the present time when the whole future of mental hospitals in Britain is in doubt, for an examination of their efficiency bears on the issue whether mental hospitals are running down or not. The authors describe and compare the workings of three mental hospitals and then consider various possible measures of efficiency. They conclude that the most satisfactory single measure is the cost per case (short-stay cases only). This could be criticized on the grounds that the medical factors affecting length of stay are by no means clear cut and may be much influenced by the individual physician's belief in the value of late or early discharge. But it is the methods and arguments used, as much as the conclusions drawn, that are important here. The book is well written, very readable, and full of sensible and sympathetic comment. Everyone who has had to do with mental hospitals will enjoy it. E. H. HARE