Shock Treatments and Other Somatic Procedures in Psychiatry: By Lothar B. Kalinowsky, M.D., and Paul H. Hoch, M.D. New York: Grune and Stratton, 1946. 294 pp.

The various shock treatments have represented to most analysts forms of therapy, which for many reasons, have evoked a critical reaction. Regardless of their feelings about the matter, there is scarcely an analyst who has not in some way come in contact with the problem of shock treatment either through patients who have been or who are going to be so treated. Some have had the experience of treating analytically patients who have had shock treatment. Many are asked as specialists what their feelings are about this form of treatment. They should therefore have at least some nodding acquaintance with the subject. This book will more than fulfil whatever they wish to know. There is a complete survey of all the forms of shock treatment as well as a brief consideration of other somatic procedures in psychiatry such as prefrontal lobotomy, refrigeration therapy, fever therapy, etc. The authors describe the various techniques clearly and explicitly, discussing indications, contraindications, prognosis, results, and what is of more interest to the analyst, various theoretical and psychological considerations. A chapter devoted to theory surveys briefly and critically some of the psychological concepts of the shock therapies.

The book is replete with references to the literature and there is a fairly good bibliography for those who are interested in specific aspects of shock treatment.

The authors, although quite obviously biased in favor of shock treatment, do not use the book for proselytizing, but in the main confine themselves to their own experiences, adding a summary of reports from the literature.

Although the book is too detailed for the average analyst, whatever his convictions, if he is interested in some aspect of shock therapy, he will either find an answer to his question in this book, or will find some reference which he may consult.