SHELL SHOCK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16848, 26 September 1922, Page 4

SHELL SHOCK.

CURE BY SUGGESTION. . ~ EFFECT OF TEMPERAMENT ON SOLDIERING. •(Special to the “Star.”* LONDON, August 10. There is an impression rampant that the number of victims of shell-shock s very great, and that many of them arc going about in their ordinary occupations with nerves still overstrung an l unfitting them to cope effectively with normal every-day problems. The thought is disturbing, and for that reason a report issued yesterday 15y u War Office Committee which has been investigating shell-shock is to be welcomed. For the committee’s finding is that the general view of the amount of insanity produced by the war is overstated. Tn the evidence it is repeatedly emphasised that shell-shock was less frequent in units which had been well trained: and the case k quoted of the original Expeditionary Force. The men, when hardly able to keep awake or remain upon horseback unless held there, were still ready tyrd eager 'to stop and fight at any moment.’’ This is, of course, a matter of pride, but it is hardly relevant tc the issue. When the Army later com prised the general population, it was inevitable that many men of unstable nervous organisation should be 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 comj n*ittee is that the term “shell-shock” should be cut out of official language, i ‘War neurosis” is considered to be j the best general term. “ Shell-shock ” j is declared to be wholly misleading, because it occurred to patients who had ! never been even within hearing of a shell burst. Medical evidence shows | that in very many cases the change j from civil life brought about by enlistment and physical training was enough tef cause neurasthenic and hysterical symptoms. \ “No case of psycho-neurosis, or of mental breakdown, even when attri- . buted to a shell explosion,” says the committee. 41 should be classified as a battle casualty, any more than sicknes, or disease is so regarded.” On the question of treatment, the committee state that they “do not recommend psycho-analysis in the Freudian sense.” Good results will be obtained in the majority of cases by the simplest forhis of psycho-therapy, i.e.. explana tion, persuasion and suggestion, aided by such physical methods as bathSj electricity and massage. Rost of mind and body is essential in all cases. Tho personality of the doctor treating a case is regarded as of the greatest importance. A n enormous proportion of those who bioke down, said Dr F. B. Fanning, had been neurotics previously, and resented military service. Many ascribed their breakdown to horses, which theL had never had to deal with in civil life. An emotion like fear, which had to be repressed. Squadron-leader W. Tyrrell pointed out, demanded an enor rnoug squandering of nervous energw The most likely type of man for shellshock is the brooding. introspective, .self-analysing-man. Men of» high intelligence. who adopted the fatalist attitude. fortified themselves and for the most part “carried on.” An M.O .he said, found these signs of approaching breakdown:—The wild, fighting type becomes quiet and moody; the sullen type becomes excitable and talkative the careful man becomes suddenly reckless: the previously well-behaved man perpetrates petty crimes, etc. The happily married man took one though r for himself and two for bis wife and children; the unhappily married man was generally a good soldier, and usually got killed. Most witnesses were of opinion that the stress of war rarely produced finsanity in the stable man. but that it acted as a factor upon those with a predisposition. The committee rami to the conclusion that there was* n<« justification for the belief that shell shock was a direct cause of insanity, oi that service patients still in asylums were originally cases of shell-shock rrht have since become insane. Many of the higher grades of mental defectivehad been enlisted, and some trained into efficient soldiers.