In this, the first of a projected series on "modern perspectives" in psychiatry, the editor explains that the object is to bring new information to the clinicians as soon as possible. Child psychiatry was chosen as the topic because of the rapidity with which this field has been growing. The contributors, all British psychiatrists and psychologists and prominent in the areas about which they write, have skillfully summarized not merely their own work but that of others, so that each chapter presents a good survey of recent developments in a particular field.
While the book is divided into two parts, "scientific basis" and "clinical aspects," it is all designed for the practicing physician. In the scientific section the longest paper, entitled "The Application of Learning Theory to Child Psychiatry," by Eysenck, is especially interesting and informative. All the chapters of this part are well worth reading, especially those dealing with