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NEWSLETTER

ALVIN COHEN, M.D., EDITOR 3716 PRYTANIA ST., NEW ORLEANS IS, LA. WILLIAM A. McBRIDE, M.D., ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Vol. 1 No 6

President's Column: In this issue of the Newsletter

members will note the appearance of an editorial by Dr. Harold Lief. This is the first of what we hope will be a continuing series of commentaries on issues of relevance to psychiatry by various colleagues and members. Dr. Lief points to the very heart of a basic issue directly related to the function of this Association. That is the social and community responsibility of the pro-fessional person. Granted our primary responsibility is, and always will be, to our patients. But we can no longer consider this obligation fulfilled when we take cognizance of the world in which our patients live.

We cannot, and must not, let impor-tant decisions or discussions which cr1-tically affect our profession and our patients take place in our home State without participation on our part. If we do not represent our interests then they will not be represented. This is the ra isonTetre of our Association.

Physicians are notoriously bad or-ganization men. They and their patients have suffered from this deficit. We cannot allow this to continue. It is only by effective group action may we even hope to influence Important social, legislative, and public activities. If we have anything constructive to offer in the field of mental hygiene and hu-man behavior we must be heard and recog-nized. If we do not make the effort then we fall short in our duty to our patients, our profession, and ourselves.

I make this appeal because very shortly. we shall begin the matter of committee appointments. We feel we have the apparatus and leadership in our group for effective action. This is not enough. Unless individual members take their committee work seriously and work

February, 1962

hard, all will be in vain. We have all performed effectively as individuals, can we do likewise as a group? I am optimistic; I feel we may find ourselves a stronger and more potent group than we had ever suspected. I am sure that members will meet the challenge.

Cordially, Ed Knight

At February Meeting: It was announced that the Soci-

al Welfare Planning Council of N.O. had asked the LSPA to endorse their recom-mendation to the La. Legislature that funds be allocated to start on a build-ing program at Belle Chasse for the es-tablishment of an institution for re-tarded children.

Walter Barton, President of APA, was snowbound in Boston and unable to attend as guest speaker. The members were quite disappointed and hope Dr. Barton will be able to arrange another trip soon. We were fortunate, however, in securing as our speaker Robert Heath, Chm, Dept. of Psy. F Neurology at Tulane, who spoke on "Some Aspects of Human Be-havior" in which he vividly set forth the idea that the introspective techniques, studies, and research were not enough to understand the fundamentals of behavior. Introspective and inspective methods must combine and close cooperation with the biological sciences is crucial to the study of human behavior. Introspec-tive therapeutic procedures and pharma-cological methods have set a reduction of anxiety as their goal. What about more work along the lines of understand-ing pleasure areas as such rather than working just towards a lowering of anxiety?

After the meeting we adjourned

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to a cocktail party at the home of Ed Knight.

North La. Chapter: Gene Usdin, President-Elect LSPA,

will discuss interrelationships between Chapter and State organization at Shreveport, March 2

N.O. Society Neurology a Psychiatry: Bernard Alpers, Prof. of Neurology,

the Jefferson Med. Coli.ege, will speak at dinner mtg at 7 PM at Arnaud's Res-taurant on Thursday, March 15. Active members free. Guests $6.50 per person.

Ken Ritter was appointed chm of Corn. on Community Affairs. Members of the Corn, are: Benjamin Parker, Frederick Brewer, Robert Lancaster, Wallace Fleetwood, anh William Thompson.;

The Louisiana Group Psychotherapy Assn. invites you to the 1st Annual Institute, Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7, 1962. The theme will be "The Promise of Group Therapy". Dr. Hugh Mullen, FAGPA of N.Y. City, will be guest lecturer. There will be lectures and workshops which will give orienta-tion and training experience. Please address inquiries to Dr. Arthur Sarnuels, 1524 Aline St., U.O., La.

La. Assn. for Mental Health: The Corn, on The Emergency Care of

the Mentally Ill in N.O. met with the Dept. of Hospitals of the State, repre-sentatives of Tulane and L.S.U. Medical Schools, and representatives of the LVIO

mayoralty candidates to further explore the Corn, recommendations.

At the Neurosis and Trauma Insti-tute held in Lafayette, La., Feb. 214, which was attended by 120 physicians and attorneys, Herbert Modlin of i:ennin-ger Clinic and Gene Usdin were the two main speakers and together with John Fisher of Lafayette and Ernest Miller of Lake Charles participated in panel discussions.

Harold Lief, Professor of Psychi-atry at Tulane University and member GAP Corn, on Social Issues, is author of

the first in a series of guest editor-ials. His column discusses what is pro-bably the most important problem facing the world today.

The editors will be glad to re-ceive comments of readers regarding this article, the idea of guest editorials, and suCgestions for future writers and topics.

Will Man Survive? by

Harold Lief, M.D.

The survival of man as a species is now, for the first time, in doubt. Even the Black Death of the 14th century, though it eventually killed 25 million people in Europe, vented its destruction over many years, and left many areas of the wcrj.d relatively untouched. The effects of modern nuclear warfare would be massive, nuick, and unlimited geo-graphically. The AAAS Committee on Science in the Promotion of Human Wel-fare recently issued a report (See Note 1) in which it stated, "In view of the worldwide effects of radioactive fallout and of the economic interdependence of the modern world, no nation can hope to escape the catastrophic effects of such a war . . . If we permit such a war to occur in the future course of human his-tory, we run the risk of ending human history altopether."

The AAAS Committee feels that sci-entists have "a special dut y and an his-toric oprortunity" to work toward the prevention of such a war. How many psychiatrists contribute to the attain-ment of this goal? Ordinarily we, as psychiatrists, are only concerned with the individual behavior of mentally ill patients. Nevertheless as a result of such clinical experience, we do have an understanding of human attitudes and behavior that may aid others in grap-flog with these problems. If this pre-mise is true, I believe it is our duty to try and communicate our insights to our fellow scientists and to all people who can be reached.

Yes, the problems in averting war are enormous and so is the task of sci-entists in trying to assemble their knowledge and pool it for the common good; for the viewpoint of no single

profession is great enouph to encompass the complex issues of war and peace. There is no blueprint as to how this is to be done, neither is there an over-riding theory of human behavior appli-cable to this issue, to which all or even most behavioral scientists would agree. But somehow we must start, and in this process, psychiatry can make an effective contribution.

There are many factors that can be considered by the ps'rchiatrist. One of these, for example, is the nature of man in relation to war. Here prab-lems of individual ad group aggres- sion, and the factcrs that modify them, might be considered. The nature cf man's response to threat, including the way he perceives such threats, is an-other item that can be dealt with. The influence of the increasing de-humanization in the world upon the po-tential for war is still another topic. A final example might be the nsychclog-ical factors involved in non-violent methods of conflict resolution.

This is just a sampling of the complicated but chaJic-nginc' cuestions facing the risychiatrist who would like to do his share in helping manhind face, as rationally as possible, the most awesome question of our times - "will man survive?" (1) Science, 134, 2080 (29 Dec. 1961).

La. State Mental Health Program (Alcoholisnf)

The hospital program for alcohol-ics started in Louisiana in 1953 when the Charity Hospital in N.O. opened a 10 bed ward. In February, 1958, East La. State Hospital in Jackson onened a 25 bed unit in a separate buildinp from mental patients. This was increased to 50 beds in July, 1959. In October, 1960 a separate 36 bed unit was opened at the Southeast La. Hospital in ilandeville. Alcoholic units in separate buildings were also opened at Charity Hospital at Pineville.

The Committee on Alcoholism for Greater N.0., Inc. and the staff of the Social Welfare Planning Council of N.O. gave the initial inspiration and the Division of Alcoholism of the Dept.

of Hospitals coordinated a unique com-munity program on alcoholism which opened October 3, 1960, in N.O. This plan includes an Information and Edu-cation Center maintained by the Corn, on Alcoholism for Greater N.O. and the fol-lowiflo Clinic Services maintained by the Division of Alcoholism: (1) evaluation and diagnosis (2) direct treatment on an cutpatient basis (3) consultation (4) referral of patients to other com-munity resources (5) a pre-admission clinic for state and private hospitals (6) after-care services following hos-pitalization. Services are provided to any citizen of La. who voluntarily seeks help with a drinking problem. Indivi-duals who desire treatment on the Alco-holism Treatment Service of the South-east La. Hospital at Mandeville must first report to the Clinic for evalua-tion and approval. There is full co-operation and mutual participation in the treatment goals of the Clinic and the goals of education by the Center.

La. ranks 28th among states in the rate of a.Lcohclism - - having an esti-mated 57 1 350 alcoholics with a rate of 3,230 per 100,000 adult population (20 years and over) and rates among the top 10 states in the number of special unit beds for alcoholics (110) and total budget expenditures ($259,461 for 1961-1962).

A future goal is to develop Edu-cation and Information Centers in Baton Rouge and Shreveport similar to the operating Plar, in N.O. for the purpose of strengthening the present limited program cm alcoholism education and to develop a focus of activities on alco-holism research projects and especially follow-up studies of patients and pro-gram evaluation.

Published: - Genevieve Arneson, "The Nethacho-

line Response and Patient Improvement" in Dec. Journal of Clinical and Exper-imental Psychopathology. Harold Lief, "New Orleans School Crisis" U.S. Coma mission on Civil Rights. George Burke, "Response to Librium in Individuals With a Propensity for Addiction" in Feb. Journal of La. State Med. Soc.

Marvin Miller and Carl Davis have been invited to attend the President's Conference on Occupational Safety, Her. 6 9 7 5 and 8 in Washington, D.C.... Harold Lief presented a paper "The In-tegration of Psychiatric and Psychoan-alytic Training at Tulane - The Psychi-atrist as Teacher and Administrator' t at Academy of Psychoanalysis mtg, N.Y., Dec. He also drafted a report on "Psy -chological Aspects of the Nuclear Arms Pace" at GAP mtg of Corn, on Social Is-sues in N.O., Feb. 10 and ll .... Charles Watkins attended the AMA mtg in Chicago Feb. 3-5 and represented L.S.U. in MEND Program while in Chicago. He spoke at the opening of the new building of the Lafayette Mental Health Treatment Cen-ter .... Rohert_Heath will be a guest lecturer at the 14th annual Institute in Psy. and Neurology at V.A. Service in Little Rock, Ark., Mar. B and 9. ....Cyril Phillips spoke at a mtg of the Children's Bureau on "Questions Asked by Adopted Children" Jan. 26.

.Arthur Samuels spoke on "Learning Problems in Children" at Hiern School in Dec... Charles Watkins and Genevieve Arneson attendee mtg on "Research in Medical Education in Psychiatry" snon-sored by Southern Assn. of Professors of Psychiatry in Washington, D.C., Jan. 19 and 20 .... Don Lathrop and Arthur Samuels attended the 5th Annual Insti- te on Group Psychotherapy in N.Y. in

Jan. They also represented the La. Group Psychotherapy Assn. at the mtg of the American Group Psychotherapy Assn. in N.Y. in Jan. Arthur Burdon also attended the mtq and Institute and was a discussant on a section devoted to marital grcup psychothenapy .... Jacob Weisler spoke on "Hhat is Satisfactory School Progress" atHynes School, Feb. 19 .... Alvin Cohen was appointed con-sultant in psychiatry at the Vocational Rehabilitation Evaluation Center at

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The Newsletter is a publication of: La. State Psychiatric Associaticn

Ediard H. Knight, M.D., President Gene L. Usdin, M.D., President-El Lucio E. Gatto, M.D., Secretary Harold Bolding, M.D., Treasurer

Delgado. . ..William Sorum spoke to the Liberal Arts Club at St. Aloysius, Jan. 13 and on "The Psychology of Prejudice" at First Unitarian Church on Feb. 25. ....Robert Gilliland narticipated in a panel on "Pornography" at mtg of Academy of Religion and Mental Health. He and William Thompson were on a panel dis-cussion on "The Psychoanalytic Process" at rntg of N.O. Psychoanalytic Society. ....James Knight participated in a panel discussion on "Religion and the Public Schools" at Anti-Defamation League mtg in N.O., Feb. 25... .Ronald McNichol and Tom Rafferty spoke at the Southern States Ccnference on after-care for the men-tally ill in N.O. on Feb. 14 and 15. ....CarJ Adatto spoke on "Teen-age Counselling" at mtg of Academy of Re-ligion and Mental Health, Feb. 13. .... Clayton_Edisen was elected chm, in N.O., of Alumni Foundation Board, Uni-versity of Chicago, for the year 1962.

Vann Spruiell participated in a panel on "Career Planning" at Benjamin Franklin Senior High PTA mtg, Feb. 14. • ...Edward Knight and Irwin Marcus in-terviewed in Times-Picayune on use of the couch in psychiatry, Feb. 3... .T.A. Hatters spoke to Nebraska Psychiatric Institute Staff on "What Effects Years of Practicing Psychiatry Might Have on the Psychiatrist't and "A Psychiatrist's Hobby - Archeology and Healing Rites" in Feb.

At L.S.U.: James Mann, Associate Prof. of

Psychiatry at Boston U., was a guest lecturer Jan. 31 - Feb. 3. He held seminars with the residents on Group Psychotherany. Lawrence Kubie, Direc-tor of Trng, The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, was a guest lecturer Feb. 22-24.

At Tulane: Jules i1asserman will be a guest

lecturer on March 17.

At DePaul Hospital: Arthur Blood was installed as

President, Wallace Fleetwood as Vice-President, and James Brown as Secretary-'measurer at annual installation dinner, Jan. 22. John Bick gave an address of

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welcome. Arthur Blood announced the following Committee Chairmen for 1962: Max Johnson, Medical Records; John Bick, Membership; Robert Lancaster, Medical Advisory; Frederick Brewer, Nominating; William Super, Medical Legal; William Sorurn, Nursing Educa-tion; Fred Hunter, Pharmacy; Benjamin Parker, Program; and Hiram Haynie, Library.

William Sorum sooke to the Hospi-tal Guild on Jan. 29.

Faculty representatives from 14 nursing schools in a five state area, affiliating with DePaul's Affiliate School of Psychiatric Nursing, attend-ed a two week Institute on ttBea\riora1 Ccncepts in Basic CurriculumT1 in Feb.

At Touro Infir1n?ry: Arthur Samuels and Charles Smith

led a panel discussion on "Drugs in Psychiatry" at Feb. 9 mtg. Donald Lathrop, Max Sugar, and Arthur Samuels presented a panel discussion on 'Croup

Psychotherapy" at Feb. 23 mtg. Gene Usdin, Chief, Dept. of Psy-

chiatry 6 Neurology, made the follow-ing appointments: David Freedman in charge of Neurology Clinic which will also hold a teaching conference on Wednesdays. Robert Head in charge of Epileptic and Luetic Clinic, Edward Knight to be Director of Psy -chotherapy with Vann Spruiell super-vising the Monday Clinic and Donald Lathrop the Friday Clinic.

joint luncheon mtgs on 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month are bein arranged with Depts. of Surgery, Gyne-cology, Orthopedics, Obstetrics, in-ternal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Otolarvr!gology, Dermatolony, and Den-tistry.

Next Meetin:: Friday M , arch 16, 1962, 8 PM L.E.U. Auditorium - 7ives Invited Speaker: Dr. Jules Massernan "Alternative to World Suicide"