Shell Shock in World War I

Introduction

• Host: Indy Neidell
• Topic: Shell Shock as a real casualty of war
• Survivors faced both physical and mental problems.

Definition and Early Recognition

• Symptoms noted as early as the battles of Mons.
• Symptoms include:
  • Headaches
  • Cardiac irregularities
  • Blindness
  • Amnesia
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nightmares
• By 1915, the term "shell shock" was coined in English.
• Historical context: Similar issues noted in ancient texts (e.g., Gilgamesh, Herodotus).

Historical Terminology

• Napoleonic Wars: "Bullet wind" for reactions to near-misses.
• American Civil War: "Soldiers’ heart" for cardiac issues.
• More recent terms: Battle fatigue, Gulf War Syndrome, PTSD.

Scale of the Problem

• Approximately 80,000 British soldiers affected by shell shock.
• 100,000 Germans treated for "hysteria" in field hospitals.

Impact on Neurology and Psychology

• Shell shock influenced the development of neurology and psychology.
• Treatments evolved from earlier wars (e.g., Russian wars with Turkey, Japan).

Causes of Shell Shock

• Initial thoughts on physical damage vs. psychological causes.
• Belgian doctor Octave Laurent’s theory: Pressure variations from artillery affected the inner ear.
• Economic concerns influenced reluctance to accept psychological explanations.

Treatment Approaches

• Various treatment methods:
  • Disciplinary treatment (e.g., Faradism - electric shock treatment).
  • Analytical treatment focusing on internal conflict.
  • Talking cures to re-experience repressed memories.
• Ethical considerations regarding authenticity of symptoms.
• Problems with reintegrating cured individuals into the front lines.

International Perspectives

Germany

• Focused on containment and preventative measures.
• Developed therapeutic work environments for veterans.
• Emphasis on economic considerations and prevention of compensation claims.

France

• Believed in front-line treatment and used often-brutal methods.
• Legal case in 1916 highlighting tensions between soldier rights and military command.

Italy

• Associated stress of returning home with mental breakdowns.

Russia

• Called for special hospitals and treatment centers in 1916, but the Revolution halted progress.

Britain

• Psychological explanations were more accepted.
• Notable figures like W.H.R. Rivers focused on emotional conflicts.
• By mid-1918, hospitals dedicated to shell shock treatment were established.

Long-term Impact and Legacy

• Shell shock contributed to understanding mental breakdowns unrelated to moral fiber.
• Paved the way for acceptance of psychological causes of mental illness.
• Helped reduce stigma around psychotherapy and made talking cures more common.
• Shell shock as a metaphor for the war: recurring nightmares, transient madness.

Conclusion

• A comprehensive study of shell shock could be a documentary series.
• Today’s lecture touched on the basic points of perception, cause, and treatment of shell shock during WWI.