194 BOOK REVIEWS

synopsis does scant justice to the descriptive richness of her account of her studies. Two points are to be particularly commended: first, Wilson is refreshingly willing to acknowledge the limitations and failures in her rehabilitative experiments; secondly, she draws attention to the very interesting theoretical questions which her successes pose (although I would quibble with a theoretical interpretation made on p. 146). It by no means undermines the theoretical rationale of the author’s strategies to point out that very evident in her case descriptions is the immensely patient and caring attention which her patients have obviously received, and which may have facilitated the success of some of the strategies. In her concluding chapter, Wilson emphasizes the importance of a cost-benefit analysis in reviewing the usefulness and best means of applying her techniques.

An earlier book by Wilson and Moffat outlined the territory. but that edited venture was rather uneven and repetitive. This book is the definitive volume, immensely better written and much more detailed. Relative to the immense literature on theoretical aspecrs of amnesia. the literature on rehabj~itat~on. though growing, remains paltry. As a guide to present knowledge and a pointer to future directions for development, this book is highly recommended.

MWDWEL KOPELMAX

T. CARNWATH and D. MILLER: Behaaioural Psychotherapy in Primary Care: a Practice Manual. Academic Press, London (1986). Pages xii + 403. f39.00; $69.95.

This book is intended as a manual for the variety of professionals now working in primary care. It aims to give them clear and practical guidiincs on the behavioural assessment and treatment of a common range of problems. The authors are positive about the relative utitity of bekavioural psychotherapy and wish to foster its application.

The book consists of sections on ‘principles’ and ‘practice’ (10 chapters each). The former consists of a chapter on bekavioural analysis, followed by nine dealing with general therapeutic strategies (relaxation, problem-solving, social skills, exposure etc). Section 2 then applies these principles to the more common problems faced in primary care. These range from the traditional foci of anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction, through to the more recent interests in behavioural medicine, illness bekaviour and the addictions.

In general terms the book does indeed approximate to a viable manual. There are many flow-charts to clarify models and assist clinical decision-making. Guidelines and tables are provided to facilitate both assessment and treatment, while sample self-monitoring sheets and suggestions on a variety of relevant questionnaires are presented to aid assessment. The language is clear and the references are kept to a minimum, facilitating reading. In sum, the book is a rare and valuable resource, not just for the primary care team but also for trainee and practising clinical psychologists.

D. c. PKQUET and R. A. BEST: Post-Trawnaric Swess Disorder, Rape Trauma, Delayed Stress and ReLred Conditions: a Bibliugraphy, with a Directory of Veterans Outreach Programs. McFarland, Jefferson, North Carolina (I 986). Pages iv + 204. E29.95.

Readers encountering individual victims or planning research into the effects of traumatic events might find this bibliography useful although a computerized literature search might serve these purposes equally well at less cost. Its scope is wide. entering into major topics such as anxiety and depression without being over-inclusive. It covers non-American literature although the great majority of the citations are American, many dealing with the problems of the post-Vietnam veterans.

I found the Subject Index, vital in gaining access to a list of almost 2000 references, disappointing. There tend to be a few major subject caregories such as ‘treatment’ with about 200 citations, and minor subjects-especialfy the names of specific disasters-with very fewI. There is no ‘behaviour therapy’ or a ‘psychotherapy’ subject. Indeed f lost faith in the Index when within the ‘treatment’ beading I discovered two of the three American Diarrrsostic a~~~~a~~r~ca~ .Wam&s. s :iven this criticism, the bibliography would & less helpful to a reader with little previous knowledge.

ROBERT J. EDELMANN: The Psychology of _Embarrassment. Wiley, Chichester (1987). Pages x f 224. f24.50.

‘“Blushing is the most peculiar and most human of human expressions”, wrote Darwin in 1873. And for Robert Melmann blushing also turns out to form the critical centrat concept for the modem anatomy of embarrassment. This clear and succinct research monograph is best considered an anatomy because, as Mebnann says, his aim is to ‘unpack’ ideas around embarrassment and by the process of dissection and fabehing to come to a useful understanding.