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

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XX

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2. Conceptual Framework and the Methods of Investigation

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. General Introduction

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 2-13

   3. Theoretical Problems of Social Change

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 14-27

   4. Problems of Methodology

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 28-39

3. Development From an Isolated Mountain Village to an International Tourist Resort: Sociological and Socio-Psychological Aspects of the Village Process

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 41-41

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   2. Time Before the Construction of the Road

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 42-115

   3. Construction of the Road in 1951

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 116-122

   4. The Village Process After the Construction of the Road: Increasing Industrialization and Urbanization

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 123-165

4. Social Change and Stress

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 167-167

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   2. General Stress Concepts

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 168-174

   3. Social Change and Stress Indicators

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 175-175

5. Stress Indicators Observed in 1970: Physical and Mental Health Aspects of the Village Process

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 177-177

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   2. Psychosomatic Disorders

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 178-218

   3. Consumption of Alcohol

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 219-248

   4. Consumption of Drugs

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 249-263

   5. Consumption of Tobacco

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 264-276

   6. Psychiatric Disorders

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 277-289

   7. Crime

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 290-294

   8. Epilogue

      • Gottlieb Guntern

      Pages 295-296

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.

• Dorf
• Gesellschaftliche Entwicklung
• Saas Fee /Gesellschaft, Sozialwissenschaften
• Saas Fee /Medizin, Gesundheitswesen
• medicine
• psychosomatic medicine
• psychosomatische Medizin
• social change
• somatische Medizin
• stress

• Psychiatrie Oberwallis und Psychosomatische Abteilung, Oberwalliser Kreisspital, Brig-Glis, Switzerland

  Gottlieb Guntern

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