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Progress in neurology and psychiatry. An annual review, vol. 25
BOOK REVIEWS
Progress in Neuroloqy and Psychiatry. An Annual Review, Vol. 25, by E. A. SPIEGEL (Ed.), xii+495 pages, Grune and Stratton, New York, London, 1970, US $ 28.75. At the risk of being repetitious, I am happy to welcome again the latest edition of Progress, again nobly drawn together by its distinguished editor, Professor Spiegel. This year he has selected for consideration neuroanatomy, general neurophysiology, regional physiology, stereoencephalotomy, neuropathology and pharmacology in the section on the basic sciences. In the section on neurology, we have chapters on clinical neurology, neurootology, epilepsy, the autonomic nervous system, the cerebrospinal fluid, the radiology of the skull and central nervous system and the EEG. The chapters in the neurosurgical section are devoted to surgery of the peripheral nerves, of the spinal column and cord, of brain tumours and to trauma to the nervous system. The 140 pages devoted to psychiatry deal particularly with clinical psychiatry,
Die anonymen Brielschreiber (Schriftenreihe zur Theorie und Praxis der medizinischen Psychologic, No. 18), by H. BINDER, 148 pages, Hippokrates, Stuttgart, 1970, D M 19.80. The author, who is one of the most experienced forensic psychiatrists, published a m o n o g r a p h on writers of a n o n y m o u s letters in the leading Swiss psychiatric journal in 1948. This book aims at presenting this work to a wider public. By enlisting the cooperation of all psychiatric hospitals, polyclinics and courts of law, the author was able to collect material from 24 psychotic and 100 nonpsychotic cases. Wherever possible, he consulted case notes and records of court proceedings, as well as the findings of graphological experts. His orientation is that of a psychiatric anthropologist, which implies that he is interested mainly in h u m a n experiences and motivations. He regards anonymous letters as the result of a conflict between ag-
Three-Year Report 1967-1970 of the Association /or the Aid of Crippled Children, 65 pages, Association for the Aid of Crippled Children, 345 East 46th Street, New York, N.Y. 10017. In addition to showing clearly and concisely the financial resources of the institution, a good annual report should describe its goals and recent attempts made to achieve them. This three-year report fulfils all these criteria admirably. The Association for the Aid of Crippled Children was a pioneer in the United States in the establishment of services for physically handicapped children. Now that these services have been accepted
507
criminal psychopathology, child psychiatry, family .therapy, psychological assessments, psychosomatic medicine, psychoanalysis and drug treatment. No review volume of this type can hope ever to be completely comprehensive and many of the extracts drawn from complex and detailed scientific papers are, as usual, brief and telegraphic. Nevertheless, Progress, as always, remains an invaluable work of reference. Not only does it give a digest of new knowledge in the fields chosen for survey each year, but it is an invaluable reference source for the busy neurologist, neurosurgeon or psychiatrist, and there can be few specialists in these fields who, possessing a copy, have not turned to it from time to time in order to trace an important commentary which they may have missed in surveying the ever-growing mass of scientific literature, or in order to reactivate those rusty storage mechanisms in which the conclusions of a well-remembered but ill-digested paper appear to have slipped beyond recall. JOHN IN. WALTON
gressive urges and inhibitions of these tendencies. It depends on their relative strength as to what type of a n o n y m o u s letter will be written, i.e. whether or not it will be malicious, whether it will be sent only once or habitually, etc. Sadistic eroticism played a part in one-third of the letters. The two sexes were represented equally, while otherwise females are less inclined to criminal behaviour than males. Unmarried people and members of the middle and upper classes are over-represented a m o n g the a n o n y m o u s letter-writers. Most of them possess abnormal personalities. The majority of the psychotics were paranoid patients who acted under the influence ofpersecutory ideas. The author is of the opinion that m a n y of the non-psychotic habitual writers of a n o n y m o u s letters are acting in a state of reduced responsibility. They have a good deal in c o m m o n with addicts. The book is full of penetrating clinical observations. E. STENGEL
and are supported by the community, the attention of the Association has shifted to those events occurring early in the life of the child which may influence his later physical, mental and emotional development. " W h a t is the reservoir of functional impairment, both physical and mental, which arises from inadequate prenatal care and avoidable perinatal complications? . . . . How can continuity and comprehensiveness of health services from conception on through the school years be strengthened, with case finding and preventive care available and with follow-up assured for those sick children referred into the medical care system?" " H o w can the emergence of the indivuality of each child be
J. neurol. Sci.,1971,14:506-510
Progress in Neuroloqy and Psychiatry. An Annual Review, Vol. 25, by E. A. SPIEGEL (Ed.), xii+495 pages, Grune and Stratton, New York, London, 1970, US $ 28.75. At the risk of being repetitious, I am happy to welcome again the latest edition of Progress, again nobly drawn together by its distinguished editor, Professor Spiegel. This year he has selected for consideration neuroanatomy, general neurophysiology, regional physiology, stereoencephalotomy, neuropathology and pharmacology in the section on the basic sciences. In the section on neurology, we have chapters on clinical neurology, neurootology, epilepsy, the autonomic nervous system, the cerebrospinal fluid, the radiology of the skull and central nervous system and the EEG. The chapters in the neurosurgical section are devoted to surgery of the peripheral nerves, of the spinal column and cord, of brain tumours and to trauma to the nervous system. The 140 pages devoted to psychiatry deal particularly with clinical psychiatry,
Die anonymen Brielschreiber (Schriftenreihe zur Theorie und Praxis der medizinischen Psychologic, No. 18), by H. BINDER, 148 pages, Hippokrates, Stuttgart, 1970, D M 19.80. The author, who is one of the most experienced forensic psychiatrists, published a m o n o g r a p h on writers of a n o n y m o u s letters in the leading Swiss psychiatric journal in 1948. This book aims at presenting this work to a wider public. By enlisting the cooperation of all psychiatric hospitals, polyclinics and courts of law, the author was able to collect material from 24 psychotic and 100 nonpsychotic cases. Wherever possible, he consulted case notes and records of court proceedings, as well as the findings of graphological experts. His orientation is that of a psychiatric anthropologist, which implies that he is interested mainly in h u m a n experiences and motivations. He regards anonymous letters as the result of a conflict between ag-
Three-Year Report 1967-1970 of the Association /or the Aid of Crippled Children, 65 pages, Association for the Aid of Crippled Children, 345 East 46th Street, New York, N.Y. 10017. In addition to showing clearly and concisely the financial resources of the institution, a good annual report should describe its goals and recent attempts made to achieve them. This three-year report fulfils all these criteria admirably. The Association for the Aid of Crippled Children was a pioneer in the United States in the establishment of services for physically handicapped children. Now that these services have been accepted
507
criminal psychopathology, child psychiatry, family .therapy, psychological assessments, psychosomatic medicine, psychoanalysis and drug treatment. No review volume of this type can hope ever to be completely comprehensive and many of the extracts drawn from complex and detailed scientific papers are, as usual, brief and telegraphic. Nevertheless, Progress, as always, remains an invaluable work of reference. Not only does it give a digest of new knowledge in the fields chosen for survey each year, but it is an invaluable reference source for the busy neurologist, neurosurgeon or psychiatrist, and there can be few specialists in these fields who, possessing a copy, have not turned to it from time to time in order to trace an important commentary which they may have missed in surveying the ever-growing mass of scientific literature, or in order to reactivate those rusty storage mechanisms in which the conclusions of a well-remembered but ill-digested paper appear to have slipped beyond recall. JOHN IN. WALTON
gressive urges and inhibitions of these tendencies. It depends on their relative strength as to what type of a n o n y m o u s letter will be written, i.e. whether or not it will be malicious, whether it will be sent only once or habitually, etc. Sadistic eroticism played a part in one-third of the letters. The two sexes were represented equally, while otherwise females are less inclined to criminal behaviour than males. Unmarried people and members of the middle and upper classes are over-represented a m o n g the a n o n y m o u s letter-writers. Most of them possess abnormal personalities. The majority of the psychotics were paranoid patients who acted under the influence ofpersecutory ideas. The author is of the opinion that m a n y of the non-psychotic habitual writers of a n o n y m o u s letters are acting in a state of reduced responsibility. They have a good deal in c o m m o n with addicts. The book is full of penetrating clinical observations. E. STENGEL
and are supported by the community, the attention of the Association has shifted to those events occurring early in the life of the child which may influence his later physical, mental and emotional development. " W h a t is the reservoir of functional impairment, both physical and mental, which arises from inadequate prenatal care and avoidable perinatal complications? . . . . How can continuity and comprehensiveness of health services from conception on through the school years be strengthened, with case finding and preventive care available and with follow-up assured for those sick children referred into the medical care system?" " H o w can the emergence of the indivuality of each child be
J. neurol. Sci.,1971,14:506-510