THE PSYCHIATRISTS

by Arnold A. Rogow ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 26, 1969

Mr. Rogow is a political scientist attracted by that other less precise discipline -- thus his attempt in 1964 to provide a ""psychiatric biography"" of James Forrestal which was considered less successful when dealing with the inner stresses of the man. This collective portrait is admittedly limited by the ""partial evidence secured via questionnaires and interviews, by the professionali factionalism which exists between psychoanalysts (on the decline) and psychiatrists, and by the general confusion which surrounds both the practitioners and their techniques and their achievements. Just ""Which way is up?"" However any interested spectator will get a multisided view of the gestalt: the doctors (lack of religious affiliation; superior cultural level) and the patients they usually select (alcoholics least desirable): techniques; earnings; career dissatisfactions; their politics. There's a rather full picture of the sick scene while the perspective to come includes the ""Mad Doctor"" -- the computer. More findings than soundings, but in view of the heterodoxy of opinion and the general unverifiability of results, not surprising. However there's one positive statement -- ""It cannot be doubted that most psychiatrists and analysts make a substantial contribution to the well-being of their patients.

Pub Date: Feb. 26, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1969

Categories: NONFICTION