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In the first volume of the critical study of psychoanalysis undertaken by Prinzhorn and Mittenzwey and their collaborators there are two practically interesting chapters each by a representative of the Catholic and the Protestant church, respectively. These contributions to that study of the cultural effects of psychoanalysis not only recognized, but cordially greeted the penetration of the analytical point of view into the welfare work of the organized church. The present volume is by an ordained Catholic who is a recognized psychoanalyst in Grermany and in this respect is an even more unequivocal documentation of the underlying value of ideas which can lend progress to such a proverbially omniscient and capable organization as the Catholic church.
It must not be supposed, however, that Liertz undertakes a study of psychoneuroses as a Catholic who possesses analytical insight. On the contrary, there is nothing in the book to give even the initiated reader an impression that the discourse has anything to do with the point of view of organized welfare work. As in his other writings, Liertz is simply concerned with certain types of illness from the point of view of the analytical physician, and in this book he is specially concerned with giving complete pictures of psychoneurotics and the development of their difficulties from emotional, psychic sources.
In its make—up, the book is manifestly an approach to the laity. The introductory discussions on constitution, heredity and the mind—body relationship are quite broad in their scope and always manage to stop at about the limits of the lay understanding without giving much of a hint of involved questions. The writing is sometimes heavy, but always simple, repetitive and pictorial. There are many dicta which cause the analyst to wonder, but they are evidently concessions to the intended public.
The outstanding virtue of the book is the publication of two very long and pictorially illustrative fragments from two analyses. T