Kevlar for the Mind: By any historical name, combat stress takes toll - Off Duty, Military Health and Fitness - Navy Times

Kevlar for the Mind: By any historical name, combat stress takes toll

The psychological effects of combat on military personnel can be traced back to ancient times.

In the 5th century B.C., Greek historian Herodotus wrote of a brave warrior from the battle of Marathon who was rendered blind “without blow of sword or dart” as one of his comrades was struck down by the enemy.

It’s the first account of a condition called “hysterical blindness.”

Since then, many names have been given to the stress that troops endure on the battlefield.

In the 18th century, the diagnostic label “nostalgia” appeared in medical literature.

Originally known as Swiss disease due to its appearance in Swiss villagers who were forced to fight, military leaders recognized a variety of psychological and physical symptoms without obvious cause.

Austrian physician Leopold Auenbruger described it nicely: “When young men who are still growing are forced to enter military service and thus lose all hope of returning safe and sound to their beloved homeland, they become sad, taciturn, listless, solitary, musing, full of sighs and moans. Finally, they cease to pay attention and become indifferent to everything.”

In the Civil War, Army physician J.M. Da Costa wrote of “irritable heart,” which included symptoms we now know are similar to if not the same as panic — chest pain, racing heart, sense of doom.

In World War I, the term “shell shock” appeared in British military hospitals, believed to be caused by the concussion or vacuum effects of exploding artillery shells on the brain.

“Battle fatigue” became a popular term in World War II. It’s similar to what today’s military calls combat stress or combat and operational stress.

Often used interchangeably — and incorrectly — with post-traumatic stress disorder, combat stress and combat and operational stress are not psychiatric conditions per se, but temporary reactions that are expected to improve with time and limited professional or peer help. Mental health professionals have characterized it as “a normal reaction to an abnormal situation.”

In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association came up with PTSD, a psychiatric condition that typically requires help from a professional. It can be successfully treated, but for some victims, the disorder can become debilitating and wreak havoc at home and work.

The history of battlefield stress is long as is the list of names used to describe it. Whether it is a temporary reaction to a combat stressor or long-standing PTSD, most people do get better with peer or professional help.

Bret A. Moore is a clinical psychologist who served in Iraq and is the author of “Wheels Down: Adjusting to Life after Deployment.” Click here to e-mail him. Names and identifying details will be kept confidential. This column is for informational purposes only. Readers should see a mental health professional or physician for mental health problems.