[Nervous disorders and pithiatism in French soldiers during the Great War]

Nervous disorders due to war are known since antiquity. From 1915 young physicians wrote theses about this problem in military psychiatry. The question of hysteria breed many difficulties. Physicians of the time make a remarkable nosographical work during the sessions of the neurologic and of the psychiatric French societies, so as in their feature articles. Babinsky's term of "pithiatisme" comes back into medical vocabulary of WW I. The "torpillage" (a kind of electrical treatment), impels sharp controversies, but reveals to be a precious mean against malingering. Prs and Drs P. Marie, J. Déjerine, A. Léri, A. Souques, H. Claude, J. Froment, Cl. Vincent, H. Meige, G. Roussy, J. Lhermitte, G. Ballet and Babinski, mentioned their applied treatment, from psychotherapy to electricity, going by injections of bromide serum or isolation. Hysterical disorders were very important by number during this "drôle de guerre". They finally admit that they are bound to emotion.