There is a difference of opinion among psychiatrists in this country about the place of psychodynamics in their subject. They appear to be divided roughly into two groups, the “cons” and the “pros”. This paper considers what the attitude of psychiatrists ought to be to psychodynamics, and it does this by selecting and examining the epistemological standing of one example of psychodynamic work. The example is contained in a book by Dr David Malan, entitled Individual Psychotherapy and the Science of Psychodynamics. The examination of this example brings out in what ways the two groups, the cons and the pros, are both wrong and right; and the way in which, therefore, the current difference of attitude is inappropriate, but understandably connected with the uneasy situation in which psychiatrists find themselves.

It is now recognized that mongolism results from defects inherent in the germ-plasm. This has been proved by numerous observers, including Bauer, Orel, Halbertsma, Brousseau and others, who have investigated the occurrence of mongolism in uniovular and biovular twins.

The differential diagnosis of an athetoid arm movement in a 54-year-old lady with a psychiatric history of affective disorder was discussed. Further investigations after the conference yielded a firm diagnosis that unified both physical and mental symptoms.

The admission records of 271 long-stay chronic schizophrenic patients, resident in a large psychiatric hospital, were examined in order to identify those who had presented in stupor at the onset of their illness. Twelve patients were found (ten men and two women). When compared, in terms of current mental state and behaviour, with a similar sample of schizophrenics in whom stupor had been absent, significant differences between the two groups were detected, with those presenting in stupor demonstrating a less favourable outcome.

The history of in-patient units for the psychiatric treatment of children in the United Kingdom is largely confined to recent years. Their number is now slowly expanding, and there are approximately 60 in-patient psychiatric units for children and adolescents (R.M.P.A. 1970; Department of Health and Social Security, 1970).

In psychiatry, the law, and economics, there are many areas of overlap where our knowledge and appreciation are growing and developing. Many doctors ‘understand the words but not the music’, and the same is true for the other professions involved. This is exemplified in relation to suicide.