Am J Psychiatry 138:2, February 1981 BOOK FORUM 275

dude that, although problems in attaining rigorous expeni- would, ofcourse, be helpful to each discipline if researchers,
mental methodology persist, hypothesis testing in dynamic theorists, and clinicians kept abreast of the latest develop-
psychotherapy can no longer be considered impossible. ments in both fields. It must be accepted, however, that this
The strength of this text lies in its emphasis on hard data may constitute more a pious hope than a realistic cx-
(as might be expected in a book from the Maudsley) and its pectation. Information explosions in both psychiatry and
avoidance of repetitiveness and the many other difficulties psychology have made the task of following either literature
that plague most multiauthored books. A number of weak- more than a full-time job. The enormous volume of new data
nesses, however, lessen considerably its effectiveness as a encourages narrow specialization rather than a wide inter-
general textbook. First, the editors pitch the book at a level disciplinary perspective.
beyond the beginning student by assuming a basic knowl- This brings us to the value for psychiatrists of the book
edge of psychiatry and omitting sections on history, mental under view. An up-to-date, comprehensive psychological
status, and general evaluation of the patient. Second, they text may provide a bridge between the professions. Staub
focus on material of interest more to the academic psychia- has, in this regard, taken an interesting and innovative edito-
trist than to the practicing clinician. The chapter on drug nial stance. He intends his book to serve simultaneously both
treatment, for example, discusses the general aims and pnin- as an introductory text and as a scholarly contribution sum-
ciples of psychopharmacology but fails to give an in-depth manizing the latest research on personality. This follows
and integrating discussion of the drugs mentioned in other from his belief that a review of basic aspects and traditional
chapters that would help the clinician decide on what drugs theories becomes more meaningful if it is connected to cur-
he could use for specific disorders and how they work. Other rent research. The book presents, in a convenient and easily
omissions manifest a lack of balance-the volume devotes assimilable form, material that will be of considerable inter-
less than two pages to adolescence, part ofthe life cycle that est to psychiatrists and psychoanalysts. There are separate
constitutes 15%-20% of the average life span. Last but not chapters on motivation, the self-concept, emotion, locus of
least, the book contains an inadequate index. Large gaps cx- control, the interaction between personality traits and situa-
ist. The main discussion of a topic may be entirely omitted tional factors, personality change, psychotherapy, the role
from the index. For example, under Freud, the index lists
of theory, and investigative methodologies. The authors are
two passing references in the chapter on history but omits all distinguished researchers, knowledgeable, and write with
the extended discussion of him in the chapter on psychother- clarity. Most of them are also able to strike a proper balance
apy. between presenting their own particular viewpoint and a
Despite these weaknesses this is an excellent text that more general survey of the pertinent literature.
lives up to the high standards we have come to expect from The book also has some limitations-particularly as first
the Maudsley. The book will provide a valuable addition to psychology text for psychiatrists. As in many edited works,
the library of every professional interested in furthering his the various chapters sometimes unnecessarily repeat the
or her understanding ofhuman behavior and mental illness. same themes and summarize the same literature. More im-
portantly, for the needs of most psychiatrists, there is too
ARMAND M. NICHOLI, JR., M.D. little emphasis on personality assessment and on studies of
Boston, Mass. abnormal behavior. During the past 35 years many psycholo-
gists (most especially Cattell, Eysenck, and Leary) have
elaborated interesting systems for measuring dimensions of
Personality: Basic Aspects and Current Research, edited by personality and testing their predictive power in clinical and
Ervin Staub. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. , Prentice-Hall, /980, nonclinical situations. This area of inquiry promises to con-
37.5pp., $17.95. tribute greatly to future systems of personality diagnosis in
psychiatry but is not at all covered in this book. Interested
There has been an unfortunate historical tendency for the psychiatrists can look to the original works or to good sum-
major research efforts mounted in psychiatry and psychoho- manes in other personality texts. What this book does cover,
gy to each be conducted as if the other discipline did not however, it covers well, and it deserves to be read.
exist. Close collaboration has benefited a great many individ-
ual studies, but interdisciplinary enrichment has not been ALLEN J. FRANCES, M.D.
sustained across the major areas of mutual investigation. It Nei York, N. Y.