Social Change, Stress and Mental Health in the Pearl of the Alps

A Systemic Study of a Village Process

I first became acquainted with Dr. Gottlieb Guntern's work at several scientific symposia and was impressed by the way he combined originality and imagination with the proper use of careful, multidisciplinary epidemiologic approaches. Dr. Guntern has attacked some of the cardinal aspects of the consequences, in terms of health, well.being. and social function, of rapid social change in an originally isolated rural community - a phenomenon that is occurring at an accelerating rate in developing, as well as in developed, countries. This worldwide problem is approached by Dr. Guntern in a holistic manner. Health and social function are seen as integrated elements of human existence and are studied accordingly. His analysis of social events and their consequences for health and well­ being in a small Alpine village can serve as a paradigm for the study of the process of social change and its various consequences elsewhere. In view of the problem's importance and being impressed by the thoroughness and ingenuity of Dr. Guntern's multifaceted approach, I encouraged him to make the study available to an international readership. Dr. Guntern's book is warmly recommended not only to epidemiologists, sociologists, anthropologists, and psychiatrists, but also to all those interested in psychosocial and psychosocially induced problems in today's and tomorrow's environments. Lennard Levi, M.D.