266
THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL
get distorted and dislocated, and the ability to keep the whole complex in balance are among the wealth that lies in this film. Illustrations do not constitute proof, but this film leaves little doubt about the reality of the propositions of structure and function which family theorists have been talking about. As an illustration of family interviewing technique, however, the film has serious deficiencies. This was one of a series of interviews with families undertaken in an experimental approach to the problem of the waiting list. This is a commendable aim but how this interview advances us toward this goal is uncertain. It may only serve to raise so many questions about psychiatric thinking and spark so many new ideas that the diagnostic process becomes even longer. (There are some who say that good therapy involves a continuing diagnostic development, but that dodges rather than resolves the question.) The fault lies with the interviewer. His lack of a clear notion of what he was about and his natural resort to stimuli and responses appropriate to individual therapy constitute a better negative than positive example. Such an evaluation serves to underline the difference in technique involved in individual and family interviewing. It is no small skill for the therapist to keep the several persons and their many relationships in sight and to gauge each of his statements not only in terms of its impact on and meaning to the individual addressed but also its message to the entire group. Yet, even in this area there is something to be learned from the film. Dr. Bernstein is an astute and feeling clinician, but the events he allows to transpire and how he is drawn into the family pathology make this less than an ideal training film. It has been said that one minute of sound motion picture contains enough data to allow years of anaylsis. A good film like this one shows the basic truth in this statement. The film is presented without prologue or epilogue. As a training film, some glimpse of the planning and forethought and of the post interview discussion and evaluation would have added greatly to the
value of Re~erred /or Underachievement. It would be difficult to attain the same level of immediacy and realism in filming the discussion of this interview among professionals which prevails in this record of the family discussion. But Edward Mason's happy marriage of psychiatric sensitivity and photographic skill breed confidence that he could do it. NORMAN W. BELL, PH.D.
McLean Hospital A SURVEY OF THE FIELD OF SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY--ExcERPTS FROM A LECTURE BY ERICH LINDEMANN, M.D. Some Beginnings of Social Psychiatry (14 minutes, 16ram, sound, black and white. Rental $5.00, sale $30.00). Group Studies and Social Psychiatry (22 minutes, 16mm, sound, black and white. Rental $5.00, sale $37.00). The Psychiatrist in the Community (22 minutes, 16mm, sound, black and white. Rental $5.00, sale $37.00). Produced by Edward A. Mason, M.D. from Mental Health Training Film Program, Laboratory of Community Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 33 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
These films are excerpts from a lecture by Dr. Erich Lindemann on the development of the field of social and community psychiatry. The lecture was presented during the Visiting Faculty Seminar, a training program carried out by the Laboratory of Community Psychiatry under the chairmanship of Dr. Gerald Caplan. The audience was a group of professors from psychiatric training centers around the country who meet periodically to discuss the training of residents in community psychiatry. Dr. Lindemann's lecture has been divided into three parts: an historical review of social psychiatry, a discussion of some current developments in the field, and an account of his own pioneer ventures in social psychiatry. Starting with the biological orientation in psychiatry of the 19th Century, he moves on to the evolution of social psychiatry, mentioning key workers and some of their contributions to the
From REviews development of theory. In his informal way, Dr. Lindemann injects relevant bits and pieces from his own experience in the field over a period of twenty years, and moves toward the present stage of development. Most of the material involves behavioral science theory which is interwoven with psychiatric and psychoanalytic theory. Dr. Lindemann discusses roles and sanction, group processes, social systems; formal and informal channels of communication; power structure; and finally he relates theory to dealing with people in trouble and concepts of crisis intervention. Material is aimed at a sophisticated audience, already acquainted with some of the concepts and terminology of behavioral science. The lecture tantilizes. Dr. Lindemann drops a few pearls of wisdom about a concept and then moves on to another. Many of the concepts he mentions are in themselves subjects for an entire lecture. Probably the best use of the films is to stimulate discussion in semi-
267
nars for graduate students and professional personnel. Since the content is so concentrated, o n e would hope that the lectures will be put into written form to make possible further study of the material. Another possibility, of course, is repeated viewings of the films. The filming is of a high level, the editing is excellent. These filmed lectures did not become boring to this reviewer. There was sufficient movement from lecturer to audience to sustain attention. There are values in hearing pioneers talk about their own experiences and how they have integrated an evolving field into a conceptual whole. Dr. Lindemann has done this most successfully. We are privileged to have him show us the vastness of the field of social psychiatry and the yet unchartered frontiers. Lucy D.
OZARIN,M.D.
National Institute o/Mental Health
Resources for Counseling By Howard J. Clinebell, Jr. MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH CHRISTIAN COMM U N I T Y The author contends the local church has an unprecedented opportunity to renew its own life as it multiplies its contribution to the preventive and therapeutic aspects of mental health. An excellent guidebook. $4.75
UNDERSTANDING AND COUNSELING THE ALCOHOLIC Written for the person who is confronted with the practical issues in counseling alcoholics or in dealing with the prevention of alcoholism through education, this book shows how to apply the resources of Christian faith to the problem. $3.75
BASIC TYPES OF PASTORAL COUNSELING A new look at the techniques of psychotherapy and counseling related to the traditional role of the minister in healing, sustaining, guiding, and reconciling. A wellrounded survey of the entire field of pastoral counseling. $6
A t your local bookstore
ABINGDON
(.~
PRESS
THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL
get distorted and dislocated, and the ability to keep the whole complex in balance are among the wealth that lies in this film. Illustrations do not constitute proof, but this film leaves little doubt about the reality of the propositions of structure and function which family theorists have been talking about. As an illustration of family interviewing technique, however, the film has serious deficiencies. This was one of a series of interviews with families undertaken in an experimental approach to the problem of the waiting list. This is a commendable aim but how this interview advances us toward this goal is uncertain. It may only serve to raise so many questions about psychiatric thinking and spark so many new ideas that the diagnostic process becomes even longer. (There are some who say that good therapy involves a continuing diagnostic development, but that dodges rather than resolves the question.) The fault lies with the interviewer. His lack of a clear notion of what he was about and his natural resort to stimuli and responses appropriate to individual therapy constitute a better negative than positive example. Such an evaluation serves to underline the difference in technique involved in individual and family interviewing. It is no small skill for the therapist to keep the several persons and their many relationships in sight and to gauge each of his statements not only in terms of its impact on and meaning to the individual addressed but also its message to the entire group. Yet, even in this area there is something to be learned from the film. Dr. Bernstein is an astute and feeling clinician, but the events he allows to transpire and how he is drawn into the family pathology make this less than an ideal training film. It has been said that one minute of sound motion picture contains enough data to allow years of anaylsis. A good film like this one shows the basic truth in this statement. The film is presented without prologue or epilogue. As a training film, some glimpse of the planning and forethought and of the post interview discussion and evaluation would have added greatly to the
value of Re~erred /or Underachievement. It would be difficult to attain the same level of immediacy and realism in filming the discussion of this interview among professionals which prevails in this record of the family discussion. But Edward Mason's happy marriage of psychiatric sensitivity and photographic skill breed confidence that he could do it. NORMAN W. BELL, PH.D.
McLean Hospital A SURVEY OF THE FIELD OF SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY--ExcERPTS FROM A LECTURE BY ERICH LINDEMANN, M.D. Some Beginnings of Social Psychiatry (14 minutes, 16ram, sound, black and white. Rental $5.00, sale $30.00). Group Studies and Social Psychiatry (22 minutes, 16mm, sound, black and white. Rental $5.00, sale $37.00). The Psychiatrist in the Community (22 minutes, 16mm, sound, black and white. Rental $5.00, sale $37.00). Produced by Edward A. Mason, M.D. from Mental Health Training Film Program, Laboratory of Community Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 33 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
These films are excerpts from a lecture by Dr. Erich Lindemann on the development of the field of social and community psychiatry. The lecture was presented during the Visiting Faculty Seminar, a training program carried out by the Laboratory of Community Psychiatry under the chairmanship of Dr. Gerald Caplan. The audience was a group of professors from psychiatric training centers around the country who meet periodically to discuss the training of residents in community psychiatry. Dr. Lindemann's lecture has been divided into three parts: an historical review of social psychiatry, a discussion of some current developments in the field, and an account of his own pioneer ventures in social psychiatry. Starting with the biological orientation in psychiatry of the 19th Century, he moves on to the evolution of social psychiatry, mentioning key workers and some of their contributions to the
From REviews development of theory. In his informal way, Dr. Lindemann injects relevant bits and pieces from his own experience in the field over a period of twenty years, and moves toward the present stage of development. Most of the material involves behavioral science theory which is interwoven with psychiatric and psychoanalytic theory. Dr. Lindemann discusses roles and sanction, group processes, social systems; formal and informal channels of communication; power structure; and finally he relates theory to dealing with people in trouble and concepts of crisis intervention. Material is aimed at a sophisticated audience, already acquainted with some of the concepts and terminology of behavioral science. The lecture tantilizes. Dr. Lindemann drops a few pearls of wisdom about a concept and then moves on to another. Many of the concepts he mentions are in themselves subjects for an entire lecture. Probably the best use of the films is to stimulate discussion in semi-
267
nars for graduate students and professional personnel. Since the content is so concentrated, o n e would hope that the lectures will be put into written form to make possible further study of the material. Another possibility, of course, is repeated viewings of the films. The filming is of a high level, the editing is excellent. These filmed lectures did not become boring to this reviewer. There was sufficient movement from lecturer to audience to sustain attention. There are values in hearing pioneers talk about their own experiences and how they have integrated an evolving field into a conceptual whole. Dr. Lindemann has done this most successfully. We are privileged to have him show us the vastness of the field of social psychiatry and the yet unchartered frontiers. Lucy D.
OZARIN,M.D.
National Institute o/Mental Health
Resources for Counseling By Howard J. Clinebell, Jr. MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH CHRISTIAN COMM U N I T Y The author contends the local church has an unprecedented opportunity to renew its own life as it multiplies its contribution to the preventive and therapeutic aspects of mental health. An excellent guidebook. $4.75
UNDERSTANDING AND COUNSELING THE ALCOHOLIC Written for the person who is confronted with the practical issues in counseling alcoholics or in dealing with the prevention of alcoholism through education, this book shows how to apply the resources of Christian faith to the problem. $3.75
BASIC TYPES OF PASTORAL COUNSELING A new look at the techniques of psychotherapy and counseling related to the traditional role of the minister in healing, sustaining, guiding, and reconciling. A wellrounded survey of the entire field of pastoral counseling. $6
A t your local bookstore
ABINGDON
(.~
PRESS
