848 Book Reviews

G. C. DAVISON and J. M. NEALE. Abnormal Psychology. Revised 6th Edition. Wiley, New York (1996). xxiv + 658 pp. £21.50.

This well known and widely used text first appeared in 1976. It has gone through many timely revisions, the latest being the current, sixth, edition. The book remains very much as it was in the fifth edition, in structure and philosophy. However, this edition is updated to integrate the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV), although, rightly, the authors give their criticisms of the new scheme at various points. Other welcome changes include: more material on cultural variations, discussion of the ethical aspects of suicide prevention, consideration of issues in the integration of different theoretical schools, and new material on HIV-infection prevention, among others. The chapter on "'Cognitive and Behavior Therapy" (Chapter 19) is a gem. All trainers in clinical psychology and psychiatry should get their trainees to read it as an essential step in their introduction to psychological treatment.

Once again, an excellent achievement. As its predecessors, this revised edition will undoubtedly prove its worth. It is excellent value at the asking price.

E. K. RODRIGO

DINESH BHUGRA: Psychiatry and Religion--Context, Consensus and Controversies. Routledge, London (1996). 256 pp. £50.00.

This is a welcome book in an area of much controversy, little dialogue, and marked paucity of research. It comprises three sections that address the complicated interface between psychiatry and religion. The first section looks at, philosophically and historically, the context of the nature of interaction between the two. It clarifies the origins and philosophical background to their prevailing separation, by looking at the underlying assumptions of science and religious thought and the historical shifting of roles between the two. The next two sections discuss religious and psychiatric interaction firstly with specific religions, from the orthodox Western and Eastern to the new forming, and secondly particular issues such as clinical psychiatry, guilt, neurophysiology and interpretations of mental illness.

The sections largely succeed in their aims to highlight both the overlap and distinctiveness of psychiatry and religion, create an arena for mutual understanding and dialogue for both, and suggest practical ways for combining the two therapeutically. The fifteen authors, ranging from psychiatrists and theologians to philosophers and sociologists, almost universally provide an intelligent and insightful understanding and analysis, whilst resisting naivety and oversimplification. The variety of authorship greatly enriches the text by offering interpretations from broadly differing backgrounds, in an area traditionally left to theologians and psychiatrists alone.

Whilst not specifically aimed at behavioural therapists, there are certain relevant areas addressed such as a cogent analysis of guilt and examples of behavioural and cognitive therapy seen in specific religious contexts. The book ends with studies into combining psychological and theological approaches in the management of mental illness.

Overall, this is an ambitious and well thought out book that provides a helpful, academically thorough, and relevant contribution to the field, and I look forward to seeing it in paperback.

PETER WEBSTER

MICHAEL NAPIER and KAY WHEAT: Recovering Damages for Psychiatric Injury. Blackstone Press, London (1995). xvi + pp. £19.95

This is a very welcome book. The last decade, especially the last five years, has seen an unprecedented increase, in Britain, of the involvement of clinical psychologists in court cases for damages for psychiatric injury. Many professionals, whose main interest is not in forensic work, have been drawn into this area. They are called upon as experts for assessing what, if any, psychological injuries have been suffered by a claimant, as the result of a road traffic accident, assault or other misfortune. The rapid growth of the literature on, and public awareness of, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has also contributed to this increased demand.

The authors of this book are both solicitors, who also have academic appointments in law. They are very much into this special field; the senior author is in fact the President of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. The book surveys the current state of the law with regard to personal injury claims. The various psychiatric conditions which may arise from trauma, especially PTSD, are discussed. Illustrative legal cases are liberally cited. Useful advice is given on how to assess these cases, including practical and procedural steps. While the book is targeted mainly at members of the legal profession, it is of undoubted value to those professionals, psychologists and psychiatrists, whose expertise is called upon for the assessment of psychological injury. Indeed, such professionals ought to acquire a familiarity with the law, including case law, in this area, in order to become better at being experts in this very special field. This book should give them most of what they need to know from the legal point of view; it also provides guidance on further reading for those who wish to delve deeper into the issues.

Well written, well organized, and well produced, this book also has several useful appendices. It clearly fills a gap in the bookshelves of professionals, and the authors deserve both thanks and congratulations.

P. DE SILVA