Army Shell Shock.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1922, Page 1

Army Shell Shock.

PSYCHO-ANALYSIS banned

LONDON, August 10.

There is an impression rampant that the number of victims of shell-shock is very great and thnt many of them are going about in their ordinary occupations with nerves still overstrung and unfitting them to cope effectively with normal every-day problems. The thought is disturbing, and for that reason a report issued yesterday by a AVar Office Committee which has been investigating shell-shock is to be welcomed. For the committee’s finding is that the genera] view ol the amount of insanity produced by the war is over stated. In the evidence it is repeatedly emphasised that shell-shock wns less frequent in units which lmd been well trained; and the case is quoted of the original expeditionary Force. The men, when hardly able to keep awake or remain upon horseback unless held there, wore still ready and eager “to stop and fight at any moment.” This is, of course, a matter of pride, but- it is hardly relevant to the issue. AVhen the Army later comprised the general population, it was inevitable that many men of unstable nervous organisation should he included. Even in these cases, however, longer training, esprit de corps, good officering, and care of the men were a valuable insurance against shell-shock; and it is reassuring to discover that the sufferers did not commonly “become insane except very temporarily.”

The first recommendation of the committee is that the term “.shell-shock” should be cut out of official language. “AVer neurosis” is considered to be the best general term. “Shell-shock” is declared to be wholly misleading, because it occurred to patients who had never been within hearing of a shell burst. Medical evidence shows that in very many eases tho change from civil life brought about- hv enlistment and physical training was enough to cause neurasthenic and hysterical symptoms.

“No case of psycho-neurosis, or of mental breakdown. even when attributed to a shell explosion,” says the committee, “should be classified as a battle casualty, any more than sickness or disease is so regarded.” On the question of treatment, the committee state that they “do not recommend pyscho-thernpy, i.e.. explanation, persuasion and suggestion, aided by such physical methods ns baths, electricity and massage. Rest of mind and body is essential in nil cases. The personality of the doctor- tireat in<x n ease is regarded as of the greatest importance. An enormous proportion of those who broke down, said T)r F. R. Fanning, had been neurotics previous, and resented military service. Many ascribed their breakdown to horses, which they had never had to deal with in civil life.

An emotion like fear, which had to he repressed, Squadron-leader IV. Tyrrell pointed out, demanded an enormous squandering of nervous energy.

The most likely type of man for shellshock is the brooding, introspective, self-analysing man. Alen of high intelligence, who adopted the fatalist atittude, fortified themselves and for the most part “carried on”.' An Af.O., he said, found these signs of approaching breakdown:—The wild, fighting type becomes quiet and moody; tho sullen type becomes excitable and talkative; tile careful man becomes suddenly reckless; the previously well-behaved man perpetrates petty crimes etc, Tho happily married man was generally a good soldier, and usually got killed. Alost witnesses were of opinon that the stress of war rarely produced insanity in the stahle man, but that it acted as a factor upon those with a predisposition. The committee came to the conclusion that there was no justification for the belief that shellshock was a direct acuse of insanity or that service patients still in asylums were originally cases of shell-shock who have since become insane. Alany of the higher grades of mental defectives had been enlisted and some trained into efficient soldiers.