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In 1956 the first edition of A Synopsis of Contemporary Psychiatry appeared in print. It has now run through three editions. And the fourth continues a tradition of high quality; it is direct and succinct which makes it a most handy reference in psychiatry for medical students, residents, mental health workers, and interested physicians. In keeping with the spirit of Ulett and Goodrich, this review will be kept short and to the point. They note:... it is with considerable trepidation that one writes a text in this field (psychiatry)—especially a brief text-where lack of space for giving alternative theories forces a somewhat dogmatic presentation. We feel, however, with the current trend toward detailed encyclopedic compilations which attempt to cover the total mushrooming field of psychiatric schools, philosophies, and theories that the need is now greater than ever before for a brief, factual and eclectic introduction to the increasingly complex field