Psychiatry as a specialized branch of medicine has been miting steady advances throughout this century and we are now entering a phase when we can confidently expect to begin to master some of the illnesses that have for long baffled science. This book, specially written for the series by a practising psychiatrist, provides an introduction for non-specialists to current concepts of psychiatric disorders and some of their implications for Christians, particularly in those areas where they have to make judgements on their own or their neighbour's difficulties. After an introductory outline of the history of psychological medicine, Dr Dominial explains the main psychoanalytic theories of personality developed by Freud, Jung and Adler, together with psychobiological contributions and the genetic factors involved. Succeeding chapters discuss psychoses, neurotic and personality disorders, sexual problems, alcoholism, therapeutic methods, child psychiatry and the question of responsibility. The last two chapters provide guidance on the role of the priest and a discussion of the relationship between psychiatry and Christianity.