Phobia Free

Book excerpt: Levinson, a professor of psychiatry at New York University Medical School, claims to "have discovered that the inner ear is responsible for phobic behavior.'' He argues that such behavior consists of sensory misprocessing triggered by concussion, mononucleosis, prolonged air travel, menopause, and similar physiologically destabilizing factors. Treatment can be limited to medications for motion sickness. Levinson's style may be overly insistent, but he gives his controversial work a clear and convincing format that includes case histories and definitions of symptoms. His advice on obtaining proper diagnosis and treatment is particularly welcome. For subject collections. William Abrams, Portland State Univ. Lib., Ore. -Library Journal.