cautious optimism helpful. Paediatricians, social workers and lawyers shouldalso find it useful in preparation of their work.

Parnell and Day, and even more tellingly, one of their co-authors, a previ-ously sceptical Prosecuting Attorney, are able to demonstrate that with carefulselection and appropriate, skilled psychotherapy addressing the needs of someof these damaged mothers, some significant changes may occur. This musthave relevance for rehabilitation and reunification of the family.

The book is well and accurately referenced especially in the paediatric /diagnostic areas. Let us hope that subsequent editions will be able to reportresearch from our own work in the United Kingdom.

The authors are keen to exchange information and correspond with otherworkers in the field. Having enjoyed this book, I look forward to doing so.

Kerry BluglassUniversity of Birmingham and

Woodbourne Priory HospitalBirmingham, UK

Psychopathology and Violent Crime

Edited by Andrew E. Skodol. Review of Psychiatry 1998. AmericanPsychiartric Press, London WC2E 8LU. August 1998, index. Paperback£22.95 approx. ISBN 0-88048-834-4.

The Review of Psychiatry series aims ‘to provide useful and current clinicalinformation, linked to new research evidence’ addressing primarily theAmerican audience. Hence most epidemiological statistics and legal casescited are from the USA. However, rather than this resulting in irrelevance forthe British reader, it becomes a strength. The interest lies in the differencesbetween our two countries, such as the worrying risk of firearm injuries andthe shadow of the death penalty over court proceedings in America. It is alsocurious to note the picture of British psychiatry painted by the editor, whocomments that mental health laws in the UK allow for ‘the preventativedetention of persons believed to be dangerous to society in special secure hos-pitals’. No mention of a hotline to Jack Straw’s office though.

The first chapter (James Beck and Heidi Wencel, USA) reviews studies onthe relationship of violence to Axis I mental disorders since 1990 and con-cludes that the link between schizophrenia and violent crime is now a well-established fact. The authors temper this with the realisation that overemphasis could fuel further scapegoating of the mentally ill, noting thatappropriate treatment reduces risk and by recognising that the main associa-tion between mental disorder and violence is alcohol abuse. Chapter two

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laments the passing of sadistic personality disorder from DSM-IV, as its USauthor Michael Stone found that the majority of murderer’s biographies hehas read fulfil the criteria for this disorder!

Jeremy Coid, from the UK, reviews the relationship between criminalbehaviour, motivation and abnormalities of personality, and goes on to reporthis own research. The conclusion is that Axis II categories make a substantialcontribution to the motivation of serious crime. Next is a review of biologicalstudies of crime and aggression by Emil Coccaro and Brian McNamee (USA)ending with a case presentation on the use of biological data as evidence forthe defence at trial. In this real-life example, the court was unimpressed,found the accused guilty of murder and sentenced him to death.

The final chapter follows on neatly from this bleak verdict to discuss impli-cations for criminal law. Paul Appelbaum (USA) succinctly reviews the histo-ry of the relationship between crime and mental disorder from Aristotle topresent day America. He emphasises that the process in the courtroom isessentially concerned with moral issues rather than scientific fact. Thus recentcases prove that even extremely psychotic defendants are convicted for theiractions if their behaviour is sufficiently heinous. Defences resulting in theexculpation of the majority of criminals would undermine the cornerstone ofcriminal law: that the prospect of punishment deters criminal behaviour. Hesuggests that if the legal system is to change in any significant way the onuswill be on mental health professionals to demonstrate convincingly their abil-ity to alter criminal behaviour. A challenge indeed, but perhaps not only toclinical science?

Overall this is a well-presented readable book, accessible across disciplineswhich would make an interesting addition to the forensic library.

Christine BrownUniversity of Exeter

Post Graduate Medical SchoolExeter, UK

The Dark Side of Close Relationships

By Brian H. Spitzberg. Distributed by the Eurospan Group, London WC2E8LU. June 1998. Paperback £31.95 ISBN 0-8058-2487-1.

One way in which this book might be distinguished from others on the acade-mic’s library shelf is through the editorial use of alliteration, which featuresthroughout the text. For example, in the introductory chapter, the readers isprimed to expect a connection between ‘Dusk, Detritus and Delusion’. Thelink is revealed to be a list of emotions that are clustered as representative of

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