- Email: [email protected]
Therapies for psychosomatic disorders in children
0022.3999/80/1201-0371 $02.0010
Journal of PsychosomaticResearch. Vol. 24. p. 371 Pergamon Press Ltd. 1980.Printed in Great Bntain.
BOOK REVIEWS Therapies
for Psychosomatic Disorders in Children. Edited by CHARLES E. SCHAEFER, and GARY F. LEVINE. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco. 1980. 358 pp. Price: f15.95.
HOWARD
L.
MILLMAN
IT IS interesting and sometime useful to see other people’s reading lists, particularly when the topic is generally neglected in standard texts and there is no comprehensive critical review available. This volume contains the author’s personal collection of abstracts covering such diverse topics as migraine, tension headaches, diarrhoea, vomiting, tics, obesity, asthma, skin and urinary disorders. Each section is preceded by a brief introductory review, and abstracts of some eighty papers, mostly published during the last ten years, are each followed by a brief and succinct commentary. The selection of papers does not set out to be exhaustive and although reflecting the author’s interest in behavioural treatments it does highlight the eclectic nature of treatments of psychosomatic disorders in childhood. This in itself may reflect the paucity of knowledge in this field and in many ways it is a pity that the commentary is not more critical. It is sufficient to know how selective the authors have been. This book is exclusively about psychological treatments and only in the case of diarrhoea is a contribution on drug treatment included. In the case of tics, four papers on behavioural treatments are given, neglecting the vast literature on psychopharmacological treatment. A broader perspective might have been achieved by inclusion of one or two older classical papers on each topic and it might have been better if the volume were entitled Current Psychological Therapies for Childhood Psychosomatic Disorders. In spite of this, it will be a useful reference work for those wishing to keep up to date. J. A. CORBETT
The Social Consequences of Psychiatric IIIness. Edited by LEE K. WING. Brunner/Mazel, Publishers, New York. 1980.275
N.
ROBINS,
PAULA
J. CLAYTON
and
JOHN
pp. Price: $20.00.
UNDER the energetic leadership of JOHN WING, The Section of Epidemiology of the World Psychiatric Association has proved itself to be the leading forum for research and discussion in its field, since it was first set up in 1967. This book is the third publication of its four symposia, all important landmarks in the development of the subject. I think it is true to say that psychiatry has been the front runner over the past ten years in the application of epidemiological techniques to medicine--this book shows that psychiatrists are still in the lead. Every library must have this book which is an authoritative account of its subject. What more can be said to our readers but “Buy it”. DENIS LEIGH
Behavioural Science in Medicine. H. R. WINEFIELD and M. Y. PEAY. Allen & Unwin, Sydney and London, and Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield. 1980. 344 pp. Price: paperback f5.95. BEHAVIOURAL Science is now part of the curriculum of any self-respecting medical school. Its development during the past few decades has been stimulated by psychiatrists, though usually as foster-parents to psychologists and sociologists while they have grown in both quantity and quality. This is a textbook to be commended to medical students, or indeed to students of any other health profession. It contains facts and opinions-and with reasoned balance-appropriate to acquaint them with such reputable academic disciplines as anatomy and physiology. It is well written and each chapter has a very valuable summary, list of terms and concepts, items for discussion, suggested reading and scientific references. A teacher would do well to rely on it as a source to recommend for learning, certainly about psychology. Should it be criticised? 1 doubt if it is necessary, because the reviewer feels benignly towards the authors, not least for treading warily about anti-psychiatry and omitting the views of Illich. Perhaps therein is the criticism-reflection about its content is comfortable, when the reality about some of the topics is more disturbing. Incidentally, the book has been sensibly produced, and is good value at ils cost. Clearly the atuhors have the right to be independent of their foster-parents-if they wish. CAIRNS AITKEN
371
Journal of PsychosomaticResearch. Vol. 24. p. 371 Pergamon Press Ltd. 1980.Printed in Great Bntain.
BOOK REVIEWS Therapies
for Psychosomatic Disorders in Children. Edited by CHARLES E. SCHAEFER, and GARY F. LEVINE. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco. 1980. 358 pp. Price: f15.95.
HOWARD
L.
MILLMAN
IT IS interesting and sometime useful to see other people’s reading lists, particularly when the topic is generally neglected in standard texts and there is no comprehensive critical review available. This volume contains the author’s personal collection of abstracts covering such diverse topics as migraine, tension headaches, diarrhoea, vomiting, tics, obesity, asthma, skin and urinary disorders. Each section is preceded by a brief introductory review, and abstracts of some eighty papers, mostly published during the last ten years, are each followed by a brief and succinct commentary. The selection of papers does not set out to be exhaustive and although reflecting the author’s interest in behavioural treatments it does highlight the eclectic nature of treatments of psychosomatic disorders in childhood. This in itself may reflect the paucity of knowledge in this field and in many ways it is a pity that the commentary is not more critical. It is sufficient to know how selective the authors have been. This book is exclusively about psychological treatments and only in the case of diarrhoea is a contribution on drug treatment included. In the case of tics, four papers on behavioural treatments are given, neglecting the vast literature on psychopharmacological treatment. A broader perspective might have been achieved by inclusion of one or two older classical papers on each topic and it might have been better if the volume were entitled Current Psychological Therapies for Childhood Psychosomatic Disorders. In spite of this, it will be a useful reference work for those wishing to keep up to date. J. A. CORBETT
The Social Consequences of Psychiatric IIIness. Edited by LEE K. WING. Brunner/Mazel, Publishers, New York. 1980.275
N.
ROBINS,
PAULA
J. CLAYTON
and
JOHN
pp. Price: $20.00.
UNDER the energetic leadership of JOHN WING, The Section of Epidemiology of the World Psychiatric Association has proved itself to be the leading forum for research and discussion in its field, since it was first set up in 1967. This book is the third publication of its four symposia, all important landmarks in the development of the subject. I think it is true to say that psychiatry has been the front runner over the past ten years in the application of epidemiological techniques to medicine--this book shows that psychiatrists are still in the lead. Every library must have this book which is an authoritative account of its subject. What more can be said to our readers but “Buy it”. DENIS LEIGH
Behavioural Science in Medicine. H. R. WINEFIELD and M. Y. PEAY. Allen & Unwin, Sydney and London, and Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield. 1980. 344 pp. Price: paperback f5.95. BEHAVIOURAL Science is now part of the curriculum of any self-respecting medical school. Its development during the past few decades has been stimulated by psychiatrists, though usually as foster-parents to psychologists and sociologists while they have grown in both quantity and quality. This is a textbook to be commended to medical students, or indeed to students of any other health profession. It contains facts and opinions-and with reasoned balance-appropriate to acquaint them with such reputable academic disciplines as anatomy and physiology. It is well written and each chapter has a very valuable summary, list of terms and concepts, items for discussion, suggested reading and scientific references. A teacher would do well to rely on it as a source to recommend for learning, certainly about psychology. Should it be criticised? 1 doubt if it is necessary, because the reviewer feels benignly towards the authors, not least for treading warily about anti-psychiatry and omitting the views of Illich. Perhaps therein is the criticism-reflection about its content is comfortable, when the reality about some of the topics is more disturbing. Incidentally, the book has been sensibly produced, and is good value at ils cost. Clearly the atuhors have the right to be independent of their foster-parents-if they wish. CAIRNS AITKEN
371