- Email: [email protected]
Psychological aspects of cancer
204
Book reviews
Psychological Aspects of Cancer. Edited by CLAUSBAm,~EBAHNSON. New York Academy of Sciences, October, 1969. 327pp. $20. THIS IS a report of the second conference on psychophysiological aspects of cancer, the first conference being published in 1966. The 25 or so papers in this volume devote their attention more to processes linking psychological factors and malignant disease. First, however, the conference paid tribute to the late Dr. Kissen who carried out the series of investigations with lung cancer patients into their personality traits and related factors. His approach led to his describing the association of cancer with a 'poor emotional outlet' in these patients who gave low neuroticism scores on the Maudsley Personality Inventory. Others have approached this problem by enquiring into the experience of loss and despair which often precedes the onset of malignant and other diseases. Many of the papers are concerned with immunological and cndocrinological influences on neoplastic development and their relationship to stress and/or psychological strain. As in general psychiatry, the matters are complex and the findings often appear paradoxical. Reports of animal experiment and clinical observation are interspersed with discussions of conceptual models and the limitations or benefits of applying only the generally accepted modes of scientific thought to such a vast problem. Many experts from the various fields presented excellent papers and contributed to the lively discussion. Readers may choose papers to suit their particular understanding or interests and should come to no harm by attempting to comprehend the others. JOHN HINTON
Acta Medica Psyehosomatica (Proceedings of the "International Psychosomatic Week" Rome, September, 1967. Edited by F. ANTONELLIand L. ANCONA). Organizzazione Poligrafica Industriale, Roma, 1969. 830 Pages. $30.00. Tins publication contains the proceedings of five meetings organized in the same "International Psychosomatic Week" in Rome in Sept. 1967. The first meeting was the "1st Congresso Nazionale della Societa Italiana di Medicina Psicosomatica", (S.I.M.P.), which comprised five symposia devoted to theoretical and practical problems in psychosomatic medicine and one round table discussion on the psychological education of medical doctors. Most of the speakers at this meeting were from outside Italy, to some extent an unusal occurrence for a congress of a national society; this phenomenon, on the other hand, is balanced by the large Italian participation at the following three meetings--the "7th European Conference on Psychosomatic Research", and the "International Conference on Psychosomatic Cancer" and the "5th International Conference on Psychosynthesis". One problem is that the number of papers presented in Italian was too high for an international meeting, which together with the high price of the volume, will probably tend to limit its distribution. The fifth and last meeting was the " l s t Congresso Nazionale dell' Associazione Medica Italiana per lo Studio dell' Ipnosi", (A.M.I.S.I.) devoted to Autogenic Training. MICHELE TANSELLA
PETER DALLY: Anorexia Nervosa. Heinemann, London, 30/-. T ~ s monograph is based on a study of 140 patients with anorexia nervosa and the emphasis throughout is a clinical one. After a short historical section and a definition of his concept of anorexia nervosa, the author outlines his own sub-classification of the disorder into three types: "obsessional", "hysterical" and "mixed". However, although considerable importance is attached to this classification, the criteria for inclusion of patients in one or other of the subgroups are not made entirely clear. Symptoms and signs are discussed fully and this section contains a wealth of clinical observation. The chapter on treatment is very useful and well balanced, and there are further important sections dealing with criteria for assessing improvement and with possible factors affecting outcome. Interesting information on the eventual psychosexual adjustment of patients with anorexia nervosa is presented as well as valuable data on parental age, birth order, family size and structure. An exhaustive review has not been attempted and biochemical and metabolic aspects of the disorder receive little attention. The writing is clear and concise, there is a good bibliography and the whole book is filled with illuminating clinical detail. A. WAKELING
Book reviews
Psychological Aspects of Cancer. Edited by CLAUSBAm,~EBAHNSON. New York Academy of Sciences, October, 1969. 327pp. $20. THIS IS a report of the second conference on psychophysiological aspects of cancer, the first conference being published in 1966. The 25 or so papers in this volume devote their attention more to processes linking psychological factors and malignant disease. First, however, the conference paid tribute to the late Dr. Kissen who carried out the series of investigations with lung cancer patients into their personality traits and related factors. His approach led to his describing the association of cancer with a 'poor emotional outlet' in these patients who gave low neuroticism scores on the Maudsley Personality Inventory. Others have approached this problem by enquiring into the experience of loss and despair which often precedes the onset of malignant and other diseases. Many of the papers are concerned with immunological and cndocrinological influences on neoplastic development and their relationship to stress and/or psychological strain. As in general psychiatry, the matters are complex and the findings often appear paradoxical. Reports of animal experiment and clinical observation are interspersed with discussions of conceptual models and the limitations or benefits of applying only the generally accepted modes of scientific thought to such a vast problem. Many experts from the various fields presented excellent papers and contributed to the lively discussion. Readers may choose papers to suit their particular understanding or interests and should come to no harm by attempting to comprehend the others. JOHN HINTON
Acta Medica Psyehosomatica (Proceedings of the "International Psychosomatic Week" Rome, September, 1967. Edited by F. ANTONELLIand L. ANCONA). Organizzazione Poligrafica Industriale, Roma, 1969. 830 Pages. $30.00. Tins publication contains the proceedings of five meetings organized in the same "International Psychosomatic Week" in Rome in Sept. 1967. The first meeting was the "1st Congresso Nazionale della Societa Italiana di Medicina Psicosomatica", (S.I.M.P.), which comprised five symposia devoted to theoretical and practical problems in psychosomatic medicine and one round table discussion on the psychological education of medical doctors. Most of the speakers at this meeting were from outside Italy, to some extent an unusal occurrence for a congress of a national society; this phenomenon, on the other hand, is balanced by the large Italian participation at the following three meetings--the "7th European Conference on Psychosomatic Research", and the "International Conference on Psychosomatic Cancer" and the "5th International Conference on Psychosynthesis". One problem is that the number of papers presented in Italian was too high for an international meeting, which together with the high price of the volume, will probably tend to limit its distribution. The fifth and last meeting was the " l s t Congresso Nazionale dell' Associazione Medica Italiana per lo Studio dell' Ipnosi", (A.M.I.S.I.) devoted to Autogenic Training. MICHELE TANSELLA
PETER DALLY: Anorexia Nervosa. Heinemann, London, 30/-. T ~ s monograph is based on a study of 140 patients with anorexia nervosa and the emphasis throughout is a clinical one. After a short historical section and a definition of his concept of anorexia nervosa, the author outlines his own sub-classification of the disorder into three types: "obsessional", "hysterical" and "mixed". However, although considerable importance is attached to this classification, the criteria for inclusion of patients in one or other of the subgroups are not made entirely clear. Symptoms and signs are discussed fully and this section contains a wealth of clinical observation. The chapter on treatment is very useful and well balanced, and there are further important sections dealing with criteria for assessing improvement and with possible factors affecting outcome. Interesting information on the eventual psychosexual adjustment of patients with anorexia nervosa is presented as well as valuable data on parental age, birth order, family size and structure. An exhaustive review has not been attempted and biochemical and metabolic aspects of the disorder receive little attention. The writing is clear and concise, there is a good bibliography and the whole book is filled with illuminating clinical detail. A. WAKELING