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The prefrontal cortex, 2nd edn. J. M. Fuster. Raven Press, New York, 1989. Price:$86.50

The prefrontal cortex, 2nd edn. J. M. Fuster. Raven Press, New York, 1989. Price:$86.50 This is a very good book indeed. It gives especial pleasure to review it, for it concerns itself with the care of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and those involved with care in many disciplines will find it valuable to have near them. The prologue sets out to challenge negative ideas regarding AD. It distinguishes therapy from cure and encourages treatment of the patients and their caregivers. The authors point out that physicians regularly concern themselves with symptomatic treatment of incurable conditions such as cancer and that challenge provides the clue to the wide appeal and the target readership. The first 104 pages are clinical in context. They describe in fine detail medical and nursing care, psychopharmacological intervention and ethical considerations. The second part concerns itself with family and community intervention. There is then a section dedicated to policy issues and the role of social services and the Veterans Association. Although this is an American book, the issues discussed have many parallels with the UK. Finally, research and difficulties with administrative and scientific methods are discussed. The style is easy and the book is a pleasure to read. As an aid to rapid referral there are appendices, references and a comprehensive index. The topics provide helpful reading for geriatricians, neurologists, physicians, general practitioners, medical managers, nursing services, social services and for research workers. The book would be of great interest to those working in psychiatric and geriatric wards and in residential homes. It is essential reading for all those concerned with care. It should be on the shelves of medical academic departments, district general and psychiatric hospitals and be available to all professions concerned with training in the management of AD. MARGARET BARRIE A. St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping Raven The Prefrontal Cortex, 2nd edn. J. M. FUSTER. Press, New York, 1989. Price: $86.50. This is a welcome second edition of a very useful review of the functional anatomy of the frontal lobes, mainly from the perspective of experimental neuroscience, but including appropriate references to the clinical literature. This edition has been extensively revised to include sections on recent advances, including anatomical information on cortical connections and innervation from the subcortical monoaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmitter systems, the impact of CNS imaging, and the implication of the frontal cortex in disorders such as schizophrenia. The author has taken pains to elucidate the general theory of frontal lobe function he proposed in the earlier edition. Fuster is well aware of the evidence of functional heterogeneity of the prefrontal cortex, but he bravely proposes that the common element of the experimental tasks used to dissect its function is the ‘temporal organization of behaviour’. While one might disagree with this particular emphasis, his attempt a t this unifying parsimony should be applauded. Most of the conclusions are sound. I disagreed only with the apparent suggestion that frontal dysfunction is a main feature of Alzheimer’s disease. Here the author seems to have extrapolated far too readily from the evidence of deterioration of frontal cortical function during the course of normal ageing. The book is very well written and produced. Together with Stuss and Benson‘s more clinically pointed review (The Frontal Lobes, Raven, New York, 1986), these volumes are essential complementary reading for those tempted to explore the complexities of frontal lobe function. T. W. ROBBINS University of Cambridge Organic Psychiatry: The Psychological Consequences of Cerebral Disorder. WILLIAM ALWYN LISHMAN, edn. 2nd Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 1987. No. of pages: 745. Price: E29.50. The second edition of this most authoritative text has appeared 10 years after the first. Progress in organic psychiatry has been rapid and Professor Lishman has kept up with developments admirably. The book has a more pleasing layout and is easier to read than the first edition, some sections having been expanded and some condensed to give the most up-to-date digest of the field available. The clarity and style of the writing are most welcome-the first section on ‘Principles’ and the chapter on the dementias are particularly interesting. The selfeffacing and generous preface should bring a lump to the throat of any self-respecting reader. The textbook remains the definitive statement on all aspects of neuropsychiatry and is essential reading for all involved in the field. I hope we d o not have to wait another 10 years for the next edition. ALISTAIR BURNS Institute of Psychiatry, London http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Wiley

The prefrontal cortex, 2nd edn. J. M. Fuster. Raven Press, New York, 1989. Price:$86.50

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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN
0885-6230
eISSN
1099-1166
DOI
10.1002/gps.930050518
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This is a very good book indeed. It gives especial pleasure to review it, for it concerns itself with the care of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and those involved with care in many disciplines will find it valuable to have near them. The prologue sets out to challenge negative ideas regarding AD. It distinguishes therapy from cure and encourages treatment of the patients and their caregivers. The authors point out that physicians regularly concern themselves with symptomatic treatment of incurable conditions such as cancer and that challenge provides the clue to the wide appeal and the target readership. The first 104 pages are clinical in context. They describe in fine detail medical and nursing care, psychopharmacological intervention and ethical considerations. The second part concerns itself with family and community intervention. There is then a section dedicated to policy issues and the role of social services and the Veterans Association. Although this is an American book, the issues discussed have many parallels with the UK. Finally, research and difficulties with administrative and scientific methods are discussed. The style is easy and the book is a pleasure to read. As an aid to rapid referral there are appendices, references and a comprehensive index. The topics provide helpful reading for geriatricians, neurologists, physicians, general practitioners, medical managers, nursing services, social services and for research workers. The book would be of great interest to those working in psychiatric and geriatric wards and in residential homes. It is essential reading for all those concerned with care. It should be on the shelves of medical academic departments, district general and psychiatric hospitals and be available to all professions concerned with training in the management of AD. MARGARET BARRIE A. St Margaret’s Hospital, Epping Raven The Prefrontal Cortex, 2nd edn. J. M. FUSTER. Press, New York, 1989. Price: $86.50. This is a welcome second edition of a very useful review of the functional anatomy of the frontal lobes, mainly from the perspective of experimental neuroscience, but including appropriate references to the clinical literature. This edition has been extensively revised to include sections on recent advances, including anatomical information on cortical connections and innervation from the subcortical monoaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmitter systems, the impact of CNS imaging, and the implication of the frontal cortex in disorders such as schizophrenia. The author has taken pains to elucidate the general theory of frontal lobe function he proposed in the earlier edition. Fuster is well aware of the evidence of functional heterogeneity of the prefrontal cortex, but he bravely proposes that the common element of the experimental tasks used to dissect its function is the ‘temporal organization of behaviour’. While one might disagree with this particular emphasis, his attempt a t this unifying parsimony should be applauded. Most of the conclusions are sound. I disagreed only with the apparent suggestion that frontal dysfunction is a main feature of Alzheimer’s disease. Here the author seems to have extrapolated far too readily from the evidence of deterioration of frontal cortical function during the course of normal ageing. The book is very well written and produced. Together with Stuss and Benson‘s more clinically pointed review (The Frontal Lobes, Raven, New York, 1986), these volumes are essential complementary reading for those tempted to explore the complexities of frontal lobe function. T. W. ROBBINS University of Cambridge Organic Psychiatry: The Psychological Consequences of Cerebral Disorder. WILLIAM ALWYN LISHMAN, edn. 2nd Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 1987. No. of pages: 745. Price: E29.50. The second edition of this most authoritative text has appeared 10 years after the first. Progress in organic psychiatry has been rapid and Professor Lishman has kept up with developments admirably. The book has a more pleasing layout and is easier to read than the first edition, some sections having been expanded and some condensed to give the most up-to-date digest of the field available. The clarity and style of the writing are most welcome-the first section on ‘Principles’ and the chapter on the dementias are particularly interesting. The selfeffacing and generous preface should bring a lump to the throat of any self-respecting reader. The textbook remains the definitive statement on all aspects of neuropsychiatry and is essential reading for all involved in the field. I hope we d o not have to wait another 10 years for the next edition. ALISTAIR BURNS Institute of Psychiatry, London

Journal

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry – Wiley

Published: Sep 1, 1990

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