PAIN PATIENTS--STERNBACH BT AL.

"The Irony of the ICU," and by Gibson on NationalHealth Insurance. O'Neill discusses the role of themental hospital in our society and points out that thepublic mental hospitals can become a more inte­grated part of the community. Luton insists that psy­chiatrists must participate in planning for compre­hensive health care. Gibson asks that we not be"dragged screaming into the 1970s." And Rome'sessay on the Intensive Care Unit is a vivid descriptionof the technological nightmares which might be life­saving, but which also produce disorientation andmay be basically dehumanizing.

In the final section, The Nature of Psychiatry, theseven essays focus on a central issue-psychiatry'sidentity crisis. This is a powerfully written sectionwhich should be read by every psychiatrist, and byour residents and students. Modlin asks: "What is aPsychiatrist?" He emphasizes that psychiatrists mustmaintain their professional identity as physicians andthat they must also be behavioral scientists. Marmorand Knight stress the importance of psychotherapyand in different ways look at its values and its dangers.In 'The End of 'Our' World," Martin tells that wemay be listening to the death rattle of Americancivilization, but that certainly psychiatry is observingthe end of its world. He reminds us that fundamentallythe basic question is one of values-- affectivelycharged conceptual structures registered by the in­dividual, which act as directives.

In this final, always thoughtful, and often provoca­tive section, Garber reviews psychiatry's relationshipto medicine, and Waggoner discusses the importanceof clinical work, rather than the "publish or perish"dictum, for teachers. Brody asks whether Psychiatry'sContinuing Identity Crisis means confusion or growth.He points out that psychiatrists are agents of socialcontrol. In dealing with the psychiatric fallouts, thecasualties of the system, psychiatrists come in contactwith the social system. Brody states that it does seemlikely that our socioeconomic swamps contain etiologicand transmissive agents involved in psychiatric mal­function. He suggests a resolution of the identitycrisis through broadening psychiatrists' capacities inthe psychosocial field rather than constricting theiractivities to the narrower medical and hospital­oriented activities.

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Without hesitation, I believe that every physicianshould have a copy of this volume. But to reallydelve into its depths, rather than just skim thesurface, he should save it for bedtime reading, contentto read and think about one or two of the essays at atime. This book is too valuable for "rapid reading."

JOHN J. SCHWAB, M.D.University of FloridaGainesville, Florida 32601

DRUGS OF CHOICE 1972-1973. Walter Modell,Editor. C. V. Mosby, 1972, Price$21.50.

This book is indeed a practical guide in enabling thephysician to select the best drug for a particular thera­peutic target. The information is authoritative, un­biased and put together in a way to make vital infor­mation easily accessible. It provides the therapeuticmerits of each drug, as well as toxic reactions. Possi­ble interactions with other drugs receive adequate at­tention; this is a distinct necessity in these days ofsuper-specialization and polypharmacy where it is notunusual for one patient to receive different drugs frommany physicians.

Each chapter has been prepared by experts in theirrespective fields. Their opinion of the drug of choicefor a particular situation is extremely helpful since itavoids theoretical controversy; this in turn makes foractive therapeutic action rather than passive, am­bivalent contemplation.

All areas of medicine are covered. Of special in­terest to this reviewer is the excellent chapter on"Stimulants of Mental and Physical Activity", pro­vided by Dr. Robert Heath and Wallace Tomlinson.Brief pertinent discussions of various diagnostic cate­gories are given in addition to the choice of drug anddosage. The reader is made aware that present drugsdo not provide an adequate short cut for understand­ing the patient and his problems.

The book should be within easy reach. No matterwhat the doctor's specialty, or lack of it, it will helphim to be more effective in his choice of the rightdrug for the right patient.

W.O.

Volume XIV