This book is a survey of the recent advances in psycho-pathology and psychotherapeutics, written for the medical student and young practitioner rather than for the specialist on the subject, in so far as it is introductory only and includes short contributions from the adherents of different schools of thought and treatment.

The author gives a comprehensive history of the growth of knowledge of psycho-pathology, touching on the work of the French school led by Charcot and Janet which preceded the discoveries of Sigmund Freud.

In his preface Dr. Culpin points out that 'the chief advances in our knowledge of the psycho-neuroses since the time of Galen have been the direct or indirect result of psycho-analytical discoveries'. He states in the next paragraph that this does not mean that 'this book is only another exposition of psycho-analysis', and later, that 'only sufficient reference is made to psycho-analytical principles and practice to make the general theme intelligible'.