The Woman Patient

In Volumes 2 and 3, we have chosen a focus that places in context aspects of mental health and the complex psychosocial factors thataf­ fect our perceptions of how health and illness are defined and experi­ enced. Weare aware that some may take exceptions to the topics chosen or to the way in which some authors have developed their ideas and presented their information. While we cannot expect to agree with each other all of the time, we can provide a framework and a perspective from which ideas can take form and evolve. The first section of Volume 2 provides an overview of some of the theoretical issues involved in understanding the psychology of women. These issues include changes in psychoanalytic views, particularly in relation to femininity and feminine development. The particular de­ velopmental experiences of black women are also clearly delineated. The second section deals with specific points in the life cycle that raise unique issues for women, especially as they pertain to the many roles of women in contemporary society and the impact that these roles have on their careers and on their families. The impact of having a working mother on the early interaction with children, the concerns of midlife, especially marital interactions, and the ambiguities of aging are dis­ cussed. We intend to provide information and to raise questions that we hope will be part of an ongoing dialogue, as well as a stimulus to more intensive study and understanding.