Is there a cure for shell shock?
Some doctors did try to treat or cure soldiers with shell shock, but used techniques such as electric shock therapy to try and shock individuals back to being normal. Other brutal methods were additionally used, such as pressing hot plates to the back of the patient's throat, and putting out cigarettes on the patient's tongue.
What is the difference between PTSD and shell shock?
They are the same because shell shock was an intellectual forerunner to PTSD. The difference, however, is that shell shock was specific to the experiences of combat whereas the concept of PTSD has developed to be more wide-ranging. DSM-IV lists 17 symptoms.
How did soldiers deal with shell shock?
Shaming, physical re-education and the infliction of pain were the main methods used. Electric Shock Treatment was very popular. This involved an electric current being applied to various body parts to cure the symptoms of Shellshock.
How do you know if you have shell shock?
Shell shock symptoms varied hugely. Some men were completely disabled by mutism and paralysis; others went blind or deaf. Some developed stutters and tics, or experienced nightmares, depression and disorientation. Others were overwhelmed by anxiety. Shell shock would now be known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What was the treatment for shell shock in ww1?
In World War I this condition (then known as shell shock or 'neurasthenia') was such a problem that 'forward psychiatry' was begun by French doctors in 1915. Some British doctors tried general anaesthesia as a treatment (ether and chloroform), while others preferred application of electricity.
How were shell shock soldiers treated?
Shell shock victims found themselves at the mercy of the armed forces' medical officers. The "lucky" ones were treated with a variety of "cures" including hypnosis, massage, rest and dietary treatments.
How did they fix shell shock?
Shaming, physical re-education and the infliction of pain were the main methods used. Electric Shock Treatment was very popular. This involved an electric current being applied to various body parts to cure the symptoms of Shellshock.
How did Germany treat shell shock?
But where in Britain and France, thousands of men were left to suffer in army hospitals without specialist treatments or consigned to county lunatic asylums, German troops were treated and sent home to work. Still, more than 3,000 British shell shock cases were sentenced to death for cowardice — 307 were executed.
Did soldiers get over shell shock?
Soldiers who returned with shell shock generally could not remember much because their brain would shut out all the traumatic memories. By the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917, the British Army had developed methods to reduce shell shock.
How was combat fatigue treated?
Hanson and others realized that battle fatigued soldiers were often, more than anything else, just fatigued. The First Armored Division reported that by giving "mentals" complete rest in a safe area near the front, plus hot meals and a bath, 50-70% returned to combat within three days.
How was PTSD treated in the past?
By the late 1800s and early 1900s, the “talking cure,” as popularized by Sigmund Freud, began as a method to treat symptoms that may have been caused by PTSD. These early therapeutic interventions were the first step toward helping people who had survived traumatic events.
How was PTSD treated in ww2?
In addition to medication plans, another method that was utilized for PTSD during WWII was the principle of proximity, immediacy, and expectancy, or "PIE". In essence, the PIE method emphasized immediate action in the treatment of PTSD.
How were soldiers treated after ww1?
Americans seen as lukewarm in their patriotism, or too sympathetic to Germany, were shamed and labeled as traitors. Some were tarred and feathered, some were even hanged by mobs. Tens of thousands of young men volunteered for the call to arms, but a draft was necessary to build an army of millions.
What drug was used in World war 2?
Between April and July 1940, German servicemen received more than 35 million methamphetamine tablets. The drug was even dispensed to pilots and tank crews in the form of chocolate bars known as Fliegerschokolade (flyer's chocolate) and Panzerschokolade (tanker's chocolate).
What is a thousand yard stare?
The thousand-yard stare or two-thousand-yard stare is a phrase often used to describe the blank, unfocused gaze of combatants who have become emotionally detached from the horrors around them. It is also sometimes used more generally to describe the look of dissociation among victims of other types of trauma.
What is shell shock called today?
But PTSD—known to previous generations as shell shock, soldier's heart, combat fatigue or war neurosis—has roots stretching back centuries and was widely known during ancient times.
Why was General Myers criticized?
Inevitably, Myers was criticized by those who believed that shell shock was simply cowardice or malingering. Some thought the condition would be better addressed by military discipline. Myers became increasingly demoralized and requested a posting back to the United Kingdom.
How did Myers argue that shell shock could be cured?
Along with William McDougall, another psychologist with a medical background, Myers argued that shell shock could be cured through cognitive and affective reintegration. The shell-shocked soldier, they thought, had attempted to manage a traumatic experience by repressing or splitting off any memory of a traumatic event.
What are the symptoms of unconscious process?
Symptoms, such as tremor or contracture, were the product of an unconscious process designed to maintain the dissociation. Myers and McDougall believed a patient could only be cured if his memory were revived and integrated within his consciousness, a process that might require a number of sessions.
Why did the War Office hold an emergency conference in October 1917?
In October 1917, the War Office in London held an emergency conference to discuss ways to improve the treatment of shell shock as large numbers of patients were being discharged from general hospitals as invalids incapable of regular employment, because physicians lacked expertise and understanding.
Why was shell shock diagnosed?
It was often diagnosed when a soldier was unable to function and no obvious cause could be identified. Because many of the symptoms were physical, it bore little overt resemblance to the modern diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. Shell shock took the British Army by surprise.
What are the three essentials of shell shock?
Drawing on ideas developed by French military neuropsychiatrists, Myers identified three essentials in the treatment of shell shock: "promptness of action, suitable environment and psychotherapeutic measures ," though those measures were often limited to encouragement and reassurance.
What did General Myers argue about the military?
Myers argued that the military should set up specialist units "as remote from the sounds of warfare as is compatible with the preservation of the ‘atmosphere' of the front.". The army took his advice and allowed him to set up four specialist units in December 1916.
How many men were still in shell shock in 1918?
By 1918, 20,000 men were still suffering from shell shock and thousands more had experienced it during their service. Across the country, doctors were mystified by a condition that they hadn't seen before with Tommies coming back from the trenches blind, deaf, mute or paralysed.
What was shell shock?
SHELL shock was a condition that afflicted many soldiers on all sides during the horror of the First World War. Here's what we know about the battle induced condition and how it was treated a hundred years ago. 1. Shell shock was a condition that affected thousands of troops during WWI Credit: Corbis - Getty.
What are the symptoms of shell shock?
SHAKEN TO THE CORE What were the symptoms of shell shock? 1 Hysteria and anxiety 2 Paralysis 3 Limping and muscle contractions 4 Blindnes and deafness 5 Nightmares and insomnia 6 Heart palpitations 7 Depression 8 Dizziness and disorientation 9 Loss of appetite
When was shell shock first described?
But medics couldn't find any physical damage to explain the symptoms. The term “shell shock” was coined in 1917 by a Medical Officer called Charles Myers. It was also known as "war neurosis", "combat stress" and later Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Can shell shock be a physical or mental illness?
Doctors soon found that many men suffering the symptoms of shell shock without having even been in the front lines. Shell shock victims often couldn't eat or sleep, whilst others continued to suffer physical symptoms. Many soldiers found themselves re-living their experiences of combat long after the war had ended.
When did the shortage of hospital beds start?
Loss of appetite. The huge number was completely unexpected and as early as 1915 there was a shortage of hospital beds for sufferers. Many asylums, private mental institutions and disused spas were taken over and designated as hospitals for mental diseases and war neurosis.
Who was Arthur Hurst?
Arthur Hurst, an army major, swept aside opposition to establish himself at Seale Hayne hospital in Devon. His miracle treatments meant that he was able to cure 90% of shell shocked soldiers in just one session. Hurst's techniques was to take the men to the peace and quiet of the rolling Devon countryside.
What was the medical term for shell shock?
Medical Treatment of Shellshock. Shellshock is a medical term first associated with the First World War. As early as the first winter of the war there were indications of a high level of mental breakdown among hospitalised men and officers. By 1916, over 40% of the casualties in fighting zones were victims of Shellshock and by the end ...
What is electric shock treatment?
Electric Shock Treatment was very popular. This involved an electric current being applied to various body parts to cure the symptoms of Shellshock. For example, an electric current would be applied to the pharynx of a soldier suffering from mutism or to the spine of a man who had problems walking.
What were the most common forms of neurosis in the US Army?
Among regular soldiers hysteria - paralysis, blindness, deafness, contracture of limbs, mutism and limping were the most common, while officers mainly experienced nightmares, insomnia, heart palpitations, dizziness, depression and disorientation. Mutism and speech disorders were the most common form of war neurosis.
What was the most common treatment in the war?
Disciplinary treatment was the most common at the time. The doctors involved with this form of treatment had harsh moral views of hysteria and stressed quick cures as the goal of wartime psychiatry was to keep men fighting. Shaming, physical re-education and the infliction of pain were the main methods used.
How many hospitals were there in the UK in 1918?
By 1918 there were over 20 such hospitals in the U.K. Shellshock, as the name implies, was first thought to be caused by exposure to exploding shells. Doctors believed that the hysteria observed among men and officers could be traced to an organic cause. However, it was soon concluded that this was not the case.
Did shell shock occur in men?
However, it was soon concluded that this was not the case. Shellshock began to occur in men who had never come under fire, while some had never even been within hearing range of exploding shells. The breakdown was so gradual that 'shock' was also a misnomer. At first there was little sympathy for Shellshock victims.
What is shell shock?
Anaesthetic and other treatments of shell shock: World War I and beyond. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an important health risk factor for military personnel de ployed in modern warfare. In World War I this condition (then known as shell shock or 'neurasthenia') was such a problem that 'forward psychiatry' was begun by French doctors in ...
What was the name of the condition that was a problem during WW1?
In World War I this condition (then known as shell shock or 'neurasthenia') was such a problem that 'forward psychiatry' was begun by French doctors in 1915. Some British doctors tried general anaesthesia as a treatment (ether and chloroform), while others preferred application of electricity.
What hospitals were established in 1917?
Four British 'forward psychiatric units' were set up in 1917. Hospitals for shell shocked soldiers were also established in Britain, including (for officers) Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh; patients diagnosed to have more serious psychiatric conditions were transferred to the Royal Edinburgh Asylum.
What was the diagnosis of shell shock?
In World War II and thereafter, diagnosis of "shell shock" was replaced by that of combat stress reaction, a similar but not identical response to the trauma of warfare and bombardment.
What is shell shock?
Specialty. Psychiatry. Shell shock is a term coined in World War I by British psychologist Charles Samuel Myers to describe the type of post traumatic stress disorder many soldiers were afflicted with during the war (before PTSD was termed). It is a reaction to the intensity of the bombardment and fighting that produced a helplessness appearing ...
Why were some men put on trial for shell shock?
Some men suffering from shell shock were put on trial, and even executed, for military crimes including desertion and cowardice. While it was recognised that the stresses of war could cause men to break down, a lasting episode was likely to be seen as symptomatic of an underlying lack of character.
What was the impact of shell shock on the British culture?
Society and culture. Shell shock has had a profound impact in British culture and the popular memory of World War I . At the time, war writers like the poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen dealt with shell shock in their work.
Why did doctors give electric shock to soldiers?
Doctors would provide electric shock to soldiers in hopes that it would shock them back to their normal, heroic, pre-war self.
Why were shell shock casualties evacuated?
At first, shell-shock casualties were rapidly evacuated from the front line – in part because of fear of their unpredictable behaviour. As the size of the British Expeditionary Force increased, and manpower became in shorter supply, the number of shell shock cases became a growing problem for the military authorities.
What was the term used to describe traumatic responses?
Development of psychiatry. At the beginning of World War II, the term "shell shock" was banned by the British Army, though the phrase " postconcussional syndrome " was used to describe similar traumatic responses.
What is a shell shock?
Many soldiers with shell shock then developed what is now called post-traumatic stress disorder ...
How many soldiers were executed for shell shock?
Firstly, that many soldiers progressed from shell shock to post-traumatic stress disorder and secondly, over 150 soldiers were executed by the British army for, “displaying cowardice” whilst in the grip of the illness.
What is post traumatic stress disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that occurs when someone witnesses or experiences a severely traumatic event. This can include war or combat, serious accidents, natural disasters, terrorism, or violent personal assaults, such as rape.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
People with the disorder may experience PTSD symptoms such as frequent fear, stress, and anxiety stemming from the traumatic event. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares and have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to the event.
What was the traumatic response to combat called?
In World War II, British and American described traumatic responses to combat as “ battle fatigue,” “combat fatigue” and “combat stress reaction”—terms that reflected the belief that the conditions were related to long deployments.
What hormones are released during traumatic events?
That is, traumatic events put the body into a survival “fight or flight” mode, in which body releases stress hormones (adrenaline and norepinephrine) to provide a burst of energy while pausing some of the brain’s other tasks, such as filling short-term memories.
What is the demon Marrich?
In the Indian epic poem Ramayana, likely composed around 2,500 years ago, the demon Marrich experiences PTSD-like symptoms, including hyper-arousal, reliving trauma, and avoidance behavior, after nearly being killed by an arrow. Marrich also gave up his natural duty of harassing monks and became a meditating recluse.
When was PTSD first documented?
Long before the dawn of modern psychiatry, people and situations depicting PTSD may have been recorded in early works of literature. For example, in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the earliest surviving major work of literature (dating back to 2100 B.C.), the main character Gilgamesh witnesses the death of his closest friend, Enkidu.
How many shell shock cases were there in the British army?
There were some 80,000 cases of shell shock in the British army alone by the end of the war. Soldiers often returned to the war zone after only a few days’ rest, and those who were treated for longer periods of time sometimes underwent hydrotherapy or electrotherapy.
What was the role of the National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic in the First World War?
During the First World War the National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic, in Queen Square, London, then Britain’s leading centre for neurology, took a key role in the treatment and understanding of shell shock. This paper explores the case notes of all 462 servicemen who were admitted with functional neurological disorders between 1914 and 1919. Many of these were severe or chronic cases referred to the National Hospital because of its acknowledged expertise and the resources it could call upon. Biographical data was collected together with accounts of the patient’s military experience, his symptoms, diagnostic interpretations and treatment outcomes. Analysis of the notes showed that motor syndromes (loss of function or hyperkinesias), often combined with somato-sensory loss, were common presentations. Anxiety and depression as well as vegetative symptoms such as sweating, dizziness and palpitations were also prevalent among this patient population. Conversely, psychogenic seizures were reported much less frequently than in comparable accounts from German tertiary referral centres. As the war unfolded the number of physicians who believed that shell shock was primarily an organic disorder fell as research failed to find a pathological basis for its symptoms. However, little agreement existed among the Queen Square doctors about the fundamental nature of the disorder and it was increasingly categorised as functional disorder or hysteria.
What was the condition of the British soldiers in 1914?
As early as October 1914, two British soldiers arrived. They were suffering from ‘GPI’ (General Paralysis of the Insane), an advanced state of syphilis. In early November, the first soldiers with injuries to peripheral nerves and the spinal cord were admitted.
How many cases did Lewis Yealland treat?
In particular, Lewis Yealland’s case files were thought to be missing, and he only identified two hundred military cases treated at the National Hospital between 1915 and 1924. 36 A new search of the archives has shown that the actual numbers were much higher (see below).
Why is Peckl's work important?
Peckl emphasises the importance of patient records as a source for historical research because they ‘show a much more complex image of the psychological disorders of soldiers in the First World War than that reflected by the lofty impressions provided in the medical literature’ .
What disorders were comparatively rare among the Queen Square admissions?
Sensory disorders such as functional deafness or functional blindness were comparatively rare among the Queen Square admissions. Arthur Hurst, in charge of a neurological ward at Netley, was convinced that these disorders were primarily a problem of inattention.
Is shell shock an organic disorder?
As the war unfolded the number of physicians who believed that shell shock was primarily an organic disorder fell as research failed to find a pathological basis for its symptoms.
When was shell shock first mentioned?
Shell shock was first mentioned in the media in 1915. As the war moved on, the number of shell shock cases grew. However, doctors still thought it was connected to some sort of physical damage the troops were experiencing in battle.
Why did soldiers suffer from shell shock?
Many soldiers suffered from it, as it was caused by the heavy explosions and constant fighting associated with the war. Troops suffering from shell shock struggled with sleep. They panicked on hearing gunshots, loud noises, shouting and similar. Sometimes it affected their ability to walk and talk.
What was the number of British soldiers reporting shell shock in 1914?
By 1914, the number of British troops reporting these symptoms had reached 4%, while for officers the number was 10% . Shell shock was first mentioned in the media in 1915. Shell shock was a side-effect commonly associated with ...
What were the symptoms of shell shock?
Common issues were tinnitus, which is hearing sounds when there is no actual sound to hear; headaches; dizziness; amnesia; and tremors.
Why did shell shock cases roll in?
As shell shock cases started to roll in, men were taken out of the frontline as quickly as possible. That became a logistics problem. As troop size increased, so did the shell shock cases. That was when the military powers began to try and develop ways to alleviate the problem. The soldier was given a few day’s rest.
Why did the British put soldiers on trial?
British soldiers suffering from shell shock were put on trial for cowardice and desertion. It was considered if you “claimed” shell shock, and it continued for longer than was usual, you were suffering from a lack of character or manliness. It was not commonplace for British troops to be executed for war crimes, but it did happen.
What is the stare on the left side of a shell?
Many people, therefore, viewed shell shock as something that was related to cowards. The man on the left side, with the white sling around him, has the stare commonly associated with someone who has shell shock.
