BOOK REVIEWS 565

D. H. SCHETKY and E. P. BENEDEK: Child Psychiurr~ und rhr Low. Brunner/Maze). New York (1980). xx + 297 pp. $22.50.

This text is an interesting comparative reference for psychologists and psychiatrtsts interested in Forensic Child Psychiatry. But the reader should exercise considerable caution in generalizing from the North Amertcan evidence and procedures to the United Kingdom. because of differences in our child welfare and the legal systems.

The first of four parts stresses such topics as the historical development of Forensic Child Psychiatry and the evolution and presentation evidence in Court. It does, however. offer some interesting information on the participating in child custody cases. child abuse and the termination of parent rights which are issues,well- known to those who have contact with the juvenile courts of this country. While the legal differences are apparent. the ethical and often political issues are similar IO those we face in the United Kingdom.

Schetky has included a number of papers on special issues, including one of the few articles on the child as a witness. Unfortunately, this chapter can do little more than highlight the dearth of evidence in this field. The text also brings out the developing legal and political concern regarding the protection of children’s rights in the due processes of law. While we may see ourselves as acting in the child’s best interests in the decisions we make about the welfare of children. they will often not perceive this as being so. and if we are honest and require to back-up recommendations with hard evidence we would often be very hard pressed to do so. In such a situation it is understandable that the legal rights of the child as defendant be reasserted.

The other issue which may be of particular interest in this country is the Chapter relating to personal inJury to children and the development in American courts of actions resulting from ‘psychic trauma’. In England the courts have been reluctant to award damages for non-physical injury although there are exceptions. e.g. pain. suffering in compensation cases in the United States the development of civil suits for compensation on the grounds of alleged psychological injury or damage, and it would seem to provide an open forum for psycholo- gists and psychiatrists advising the courts on whether or not such damage has occurred and the severny of it.

While it would seem justified in a sense, if this were expanded within the legal system in this country. one may questton again whether we have the degree of expertise and ability to assess accurately and to predict the effects of such experiences.

ERIC WARD

J. R. BEMPORAD (Ed.) Child Development in Norm&y and Ps~chopafhology. BrunperiMaze). New York (1980). xii + 549 pp. S25.00.

The contributors to this book are. for the most part. psychiatrists and the emphasis is overwhelmingly psycho- analytical. Part 1. and introduction by the editor. discusses theories of child development-psychoanalytical. cognitive and behavioural. He does not do justice to the behavioural approach which is now more sophistt- cated than he recognizes. Part 2-stages of development-is almost entirely psychoanalytical in orientation. Even where an author pays lip service to behavioural methods he/she fails to convey the valuable and Important role these methods have played or might play in such areas as self-induced rumination or child abuse. This sectton is often irritating, being a botch-patch of ideas which are frequently superficial, On the Causes of Schizophrenia. for example. only one hypothesis (Lidz’s double-bind theory) is discussed. The idea of a scientific approach is obviously alien to many of the contributors. For instance, one of them says, “another proof of infantile sexuality is sexual perversion” (in adults) and “another type of evidence (of infantile sexuality) is the fact that amnesia for childhood events before the age of six is extremely common”. Hardly proof or evidence for most of us. Part 3--conditions affecting the course of development-is the best sectron in the book although far from perfect. The chapter on Mental Retardation. for example. underplays the part played in this field by psychologists and behaviour modification. Also, in the.chapter on Minimal Brain Dysfunction the author confuses visual agnosia with dyslexia. Chapters on Chronic Illness in Childhood. Specific Learning Disabilities and Sociocultural Deprivation. however. are good. caring and indirectly point out some of the horrors of a private health service such as that found in the U.S.A. The final section-assessment of normality and pathology-is much like part two with the exceptton of a final chapter on Approaches IO the Dying Child

which is caring and useful reading. Overall, though. the book seems only to have appeal for a few analyttcally oriented psychiatrists with little knowledge of child development and they would do better to seek out a more scientific text. The applied behaviour analyst will find very little of value in this volume.

BARBARA WILSON

D. MANDELSTAM (Ed.) Incontinence ond its Monugemenr. Croom Helm. London (1980). 233 pp. f9.95

The Disabled Living Foundation is responsible for this useful book. The contributors are specialists from several disciplines includmg nursing. urology. gynaecology. social work and psychology. The topics covered in