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Review of Modern Medicine
316
PSYCHOSOMATICS
REVIEW OF MODERN MEDICINE. (Volume I, January through June 1960.) Walter C. Alva· rez, M.D., Editor·in·Chief, Minneapolis, Minn. Pp. 1190. $12.50. This comprehensive compilation of abstracts, the first of two volumes of current important medical reports, also includes detailed studies of specific medical problems. Of special interest is "The Diagnosis of Schizophrenia" in which some of the more subtle, and often missed or misinterpreted signs of psychosis are described. The concept of "Masked Schizophrenia" (pseudo-neurotic) is described in detail. The description of the effects of the behavior of the schizophrenic patient on the interviewing doctor is most revealing in that the doctor may become aware of increasing frustration in his attempt to elicit facts. In "Genetics and Medical Practice," the biochemical consequences of an inborn error of metabolism in producing phenylketonuria are considered. Recent chromosome studics are reviewed. The editorials by Dr. Alzarez are always stimulating. The "Syndrome of Carotid Thromboses," "Help from Outside One's Specialty," and "Dr. Charlie Mayo's Helpful Hint in Diagnosis" deserve special mention. The abstracts include all areas of medical practice. Of special interest to this reviewer were those that considered emotions and congestive heart failure, magnesium deficiency, ocular signs of brain stem tumors, changes in cerebral uptake of oxygen with aging, factors in rehabilitation after head injury and the management of neurodermatitis (where attempts to treat it without attention to psychological factors were unsuccessful). Over 100,000 articles were examined to select the almost 1,000 that were deemed to be of sufficient interest for this book. In bringing new information to the practicing physician in a most readable and succinct form, Modern Medicine is performing a most valuable service. Volume II will cover July through December. W.D.
THE CHEMICAL BASIS OF CLINICAL PSYCHI· ATRY. By A. HoHer, M.D., and H. Osmond, M.R.C.S. Springfield, III.: Charles C. Thomas, 1960. $8.50. The etiology of major mental diseases always has been an interesting subject which has commanded the attention of psychiatrists. Students of schizophrenia in particular have speculated extensively on its causes and have offered a phalanx of reasons to show that it has a psychogenic or a biologic foundation. The last few decades have witnessed an intensified interest in
JULY-AUGUST
an organic basis for schizophrenia, especially since the advent of modern neuropsychopharmacology. In research centers throughout the world the schizophrenias have been the object of much laboratory study, and the pursuit of a chemical basis for these disorders is now fashionable. Among the foremost leaders in the current biologic research in mental disorders is A. Hoffer at the University Hospital, Saskatoon, Canada. For years, he and his associate, Dr. Osmond, have labored prodigiously to discover the biochemical basis of schizophrenia. These pioneers haue evolved the hypothesis that "it is likely that the bodies of schizophrenics contain substances which inhibit the transformation of adrenochrome into leucoadrenochrome, thereby increasing the relative production of adrenolutin." Since much of Drs. Hoffer and Osmond's work has been published in scientific journals scattered over the globe, they undoubtedly felt that the time had arrived to present their material in one volume. The Chemical Basi.! Of Clinical Psychiatry is a provocative and controversial book which will win praise and criticism. Its authors supply the reader with much food for thought as they unftinchingly criticize psychoanalytic theories and concepts of milieu and stress while systematically developing the clinical and laboratory basis for their own position. They review their biochemical and biologic assays of patients, present their work with model psychoses, and call upon other parameters to substantiate their views. No one can read this book Without profit. It is challenging to say the least. It is a tribute to the courage and assiduous efforts of two men who are not deterred easily by obstacles or critics. They have something to say and they express it well. Frank J. Ayd, Jr., M.D.
ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN MOTIVES. Edited by Gardner Lindzey. New York: Grove Press, Inc., 1960. 273 pages. $1.95. Lindzey opens this paper-backed volume, of which he is the editor, by stressing that motivation has been seriously studied by psychologists only in the past two decades. He is most concerned about the absence of adequate measuring devices in "uncontrolled" detailed studies of individual cases. Kelly, in "Man's Construction of His Alternatives" admits that he deals only with half-truths, but these he hopes will lead to better truths. After debunking motivation he states that the important direction is the anticipation of greater extension. Festinger discusses cognitive dissonance as a motivating state. By this he means two bits of knowledge that an indi-
PSYCHOSOMATICS
REVIEW OF MODERN MEDICINE. (Volume I, January through June 1960.) Walter C. Alva· rez, M.D., Editor·in·Chief, Minneapolis, Minn. Pp. 1190. $12.50. This comprehensive compilation of abstracts, the first of two volumes of current important medical reports, also includes detailed studies of specific medical problems. Of special interest is "The Diagnosis of Schizophrenia" in which some of the more subtle, and often missed or misinterpreted signs of psychosis are described. The concept of "Masked Schizophrenia" (pseudo-neurotic) is described in detail. The description of the effects of the behavior of the schizophrenic patient on the interviewing doctor is most revealing in that the doctor may become aware of increasing frustration in his attempt to elicit facts. In "Genetics and Medical Practice," the biochemical consequences of an inborn error of metabolism in producing phenylketonuria are considered. Recent chromosome studics are reviewed. The editorials by Dr. Alzarez are always stimulating. The "Syndrome of Carotid Thromboses," "Help from Outside One's Specialty," and "Dr. Charlie Mayo's Helpful Hint in Diagnosis" deserve special mention. The abstracts include all areas of medical practice. Of special interest to this reviewer were those that considered emotions and congestive heart failure, magnesium deficiency, ocular signs of brain stem tumors, changes in cerebral uptake of oxygen with aging, factors in rehabilitation after head injury and the management of neurodermatitis (where attempts to treat it without attention to psychological factors were unsuccessful). Over 100,000 articles were examined to select the almost 1,000 that were deemed to be of sufficient interest for this book. In bringing new information to the practicing physician in a most readable and succinct form, Modern Medicine is performing a most valuable service. Volume II will cover July through December. W.D.
THE CHEMICAL BASIS OF CLINICAL PSYCHI· ATRY. By A. HoHer, M.D., and H. Osmond, M.R.C.S. Springfield, III.: Charles C. Thomas, 1960. $8.50. The etiology of major mental diseases always has been an interesting subject which has commanded the attention of psychiatrists. Students of schizophrenia in particular have speculated extensively on its causes and have offered a phalanx of reasons to show that it has a psychogenic or a biologic foundation. The last few decades have witnessed an intensified interest in
JULY-AUGUST
an organic basis for schizophrenia, especially since the advent of modern neuropsychopharmacology. In research centers throughout the world the schizophrenias have been the object of much laboratory study, and the pursuit of a chemical basis for these disorders is now fashionable. Among the foremost leaders in the current biologic research in mental disorders is A. Hoffer at the University Hospital, Saskatoon, Canada. For years, he and his associate, Dr. Osmond, have labored prodigiously to discover the biochemical basis of schizophrenia. These pioneers haue evolved the hypothesis that "it is likely that the bodies of schizophrenics contain substances which inhibit the transformation of adrenochrome into leucoadrenochrome, thereby increasing the relative production of adrenolutin." Since much of Drs. Hoffer and Osmond's work has been published in scientific journals scattered over the globe, they undoubtedly felt that the time had arrived to present their material in one volume. The Chemical Basi.! Of Clinical Psychiatry is a provocative and controversial book which will win praise and criticism. Its authors supply the reader with much food for thought as they unftinchingly criticize psychoanalytic theories and concepts of milieu and stress while systematically developing the clinical and laboratory basis for their own position. They review their biochemical and biologic assays of patients, present their work with model psychoses, and call upon other parameters to substantiate their views. No one can read this book Without profit. It is challenging to say the least. It is a tribute to the courage and assiduous efforts of two men who are not deterred easily by obstacles or critics. They have something to say and they express it well. Frank J. Ayd, Jr., M.D.
ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN MOTIVES. Edited by Gardner Lindzey. New York: Grove Press, Inc., 1960. 273 pages. $1.95. Lindzey opens this paper-backed volume, of which he is the editor, by stressing that motivation has been seriously studied by psychologists only in the past two decades. He is most concerned about the absence of adequate measuring devices in "uncontrolled" detailed studies of individual cases. Kelly, in "Man's Construction of His Alternatives" admits that he deals only with half-truths, but these he hopes will lead to better truths. After debunking motivation he states that the important direction is the anticipation of greater extension. Festinger discusses cognitive dissonance as a motivating state. By this he means two bits of knowledge that an indi-