Psychological Effects of War on Citizen and Soldier
MENTAL HEALTH 15
- Author:
Group Captain R. D. Gillespie, R.A.F.V.R.,
M.D., F.R.C.P. Chapman & Hall. 12s.
.p This book can be divided broadly into three parts, he first consists of a general presentation of the author’s Jews concerning the aetiology and pathology of the euroses. The second gives a series of facts and observa- ?ns about the incidence of psychological disorders in lvnian life and in the forces during the war. The third hd shortest contains some remarks about the problem rnorale in general and some philosophical reflections ?ncerning the future of human relationships.
In spite of the title of the book it appears to the ^viewer that the first section, comprising the first three aPters, is by far the most important and original Part of it, and one hopes that it may form the nucleus , an expanded presentation in the future. The first J.Pter deals with the changing concepts of neuroses , nich have been held in recent times. It shows clearly ?w obliging the psychoneurotic patient has been in jr?ducing those symptoms and ideas which fit most timSely particular concept of his physician at the .^he second chapter deals realistically but not Kmistically with the problem of constitution, and the j, lrd with social factors in the neuroses. The author Sjhis way through these difficult problems with a ty. Plicity which is liable to cause one to overlook the jr- ?.m and breadth of knowledge which go to the task. p ‘s differentiation between psychoneuroses and psycho- tic Personalities as belonging to two different series t, ldeas?the first to the series of reaction types, and e second to the series of personalities or constitutions? scarcc]y to need stating. Yet it is a differentiation bv ‘s very rarely stated and which is entirely ignored be’ many writers. His definition of psychoneuroses as s, !n8 in the ultimate analysis disorders of social relation- 0 ‘Ps, is another of those simple statements which strike e as self-evident?after the statement has been ^ade.
Two criticisms must be put forward about this section u the book. The first that the statistical evidence is t which the author bases some of his conclusions p too slender and requires amplification. It would Cl fhaps have been better to have relied more upon a fulpa and less upon a statistical formulation until this ^ uher vv0rk- has been done. The evidence of one’s Judgment assures one at least that the work ‘hch has been done is on the right lines.
a , second criticism is of a different nature. The hor has no business to have stopped short at these suee chapters. Psychiatrists who have not become Ves of one particular system of thought stand greatly need of such guidance. The author is one of the few p n in this country capable of digesting the facts as ^esented by various schools of psychology and providing Clinw’th a monograph upon the psychoneuroses in which So”JSal experience, breadth of knowledge and philo- Wh i al understanding are blended into a harmonious ole. we stin await such a book.
acj e space at the reviewer’s disposal prevents an See9Uate discussion of the rest of the work. The c, t’on upon the neuroses in wartime summarizes quite stiNf t’le author’s own experience and that of others Wq , sh in our minds. It provides a competent and qu ‘“p’Jianlike survey of a field which the author is well and -d t? undertake. The final section is both hopeful f0 stimulating?but the book must be read if only those first three chapters. C.H.R.
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