324

up their own programmes of in vitro fertilisation. The final section of the book is devoted to the endocrinology of the menopause. This is essentially covering old ground and is slanted towards justifying the American view of long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for all, or nearly all women, well into old age. The main concern is the morbidity and, indeed, the mortality associated with the complica- tions of osteoporosis. Scientifically, the case for long-term HRT seems strong, but how many women, now aged 50, are prepared to take tablets for twenty years to prevent a complication which may be 35 years away? The answer to that question is of great interest, not least to the manufacturers of hormone replacement medication.

This book has some of the disadvantages commonly associated with published proceedings of a meeting. The subjects are a mixed bag, and consequently there is some lack of cohesion. Nevertheless, there is enough excellent material for me to recommend it most warmly, especially to reproductive endocrinologists who are actively wrestling with the problems of in vitro fertilisation.

P.W. HOWIE

* * * * *

Friendships in Normal and Handicapped Children edited by Tiffany Field, J.L. Roopnarine and M. Segal Ablex Publishing Corp., New Jersey/London, 1984 E29.15, 227 pp.

The “Friendships in normal and handicapped children” study group was funded by the Society for Research in Child Development in 1982. This volume presents work of twelve American clinical and developmental psychologists belonging to the group. The apparent major intention of this enthusiastic group, to plan interventions helping the development of peer relationships of disadvantaged children “so they can have maximal access to the full range of events in society as adults”, springs from the common observation that mentally handicapped, physically handicapped and emotionally disturbed children often experience difficulties with peer relation- ships, such as being teased, ostracised or ignored, and having poor social skills. The group have the task of applying scientific method to a difficult area.

The editors have divided the volume into three sections: three chapters discuss methodological issues; four concern research studies on “Friendships in Normal Children”; and five look at research studies on “Friendships in Normal and Handicapped Children”. Occasional chapters are reviews or critiques. The preface sets a modest tone, “. _ . the questions posed loom larger than the answers found”. The volume collects together discussions of methodological issues, some recent research from the U.S.A., useful references, and it raises some ideas for furthering research in this field. Nevertheless, it presents one or two problems for the reader. The title is somewhat deceptive. Some of the authors acknowledge that friendship is

325

qualitatively different from other peer relationships, and restrict its use to describe the more enduring, more intimate, more affectively laden end of the relationship spectrum. They do not always adhere to this distinction. This may be prudent because of the methodological problems inherent in the study of those qualities that distinguish a friendship, but most of the research presented actually concerns observations of peer relationships, social skills, styles of interaction and hierarchies of popularity. Similarly, the relevance of sex differences, developmental perspective, familial context and familial social style are mentioned but are not grappled with. Methodological problems aside, this may be because the book’s major thrust is from the educational perspective. The authors are most concerned to identify efficient intervention strategies practicable in educational settings. The familiar problem of whether integration or specialisation policies better enhance the social development of the child is raised and discussed. The book’s final word on this issue is that both policies have advantages but are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Unfortunately, most of the authors communicate by “psychologicalspeak”. The text is often bound up in jargon, dry and rather difficult to read. This hinders appraisal of the research, and makes it a volume for browsing rather than cover-to- cover reading. Its major use will be to psychologists and educationalists who have a research interest in children’s peer relationships, and especially to those who are involved in improving the lot of the handicapped child. It is aimed at a limited readership, and, although it may have a place in some of the larger departmental libraries, it is an expensive and by no means vital addition.

HILARY LLOYD

* * * * *

Reviews in Perinatal Medicine, Volume 5 E.M. Scarpelli and E.V. Cosmi (Eds.) Alan R. Liss Inc., New York, November 1984 214 pp., f32

Clinicians active in perinatal medicine who try to keep abreast with even essential developments in their field face a hopeless task. Although this is generally recog- nized and deplored the pain is felt acutely when trying to read and understand this volume of Reviews in Perinatal Medicine. Five subjects in perinatology (in vitro fertilization; maternal blood volume; complement; perinatal calcium and phos- phorus metabolism; and prostaglandins) are treated by outstanding specialists in an excellent way. Aspects discussed vary from the ethics of IVF to the enzymatic mechanisms for arachidonic acid mobilization. Does it make sense to combine contributions of such a diverse character in one volume which, moreover, is part of a series of comparable ones? The answer might be that it does for generalists who are either both interested and able to read at leisure, or need an overview e.g. for teaching purposes.